The St Helena Government (SHG) has addressed recent questions from the media about the fishing vessel St Albatros, which has been active in local fisheries. The government clarified the licensing and operational status of the vessel following reports and public concern.
According to SHG, the St Albatros holds a licence permitting both commercial and exploratory fishing within St Helena’s waters. This licence was issued by the Chief Fisheries Officer under the Fisheries Ordinance 2021, which allows foreign vessels to obtain such permits.
Oversight measures included placing an SHG Fisheries Observer on board for the duration of the vessel’s recent trip. The observer maintained daily contact with SHG’s Marine Enforcement Section.
A key requirement of the licence is that vessels must operate a fully functioning Automatic Identification System (AIS) to enable tracking at sea. While St Albatros is equipped with AIS, its owner reported technical problems with this system during the latest trip, affecting tracking capabilities. The owner has indicated plans to seek guidance on repairs before resuming fishing activities.
After completing its fishing trip, SHG was informed by both the vessel owner and South Africa’s Vessel Registry Authority that St Albatros had been de-registered in South Africa at the owner’s request. As part of this process, all previous registry information must be removed from onboard systems and physical markings to avoid misidentification regarding its flag status.
SHG has also received reports suggesting possible breaches of international maritime law involving St Albatros. “We have received reports concerning potential breaches of international maritime law by the St Albatros and are looking into the matter. To ensure a comprehensive and impartial review, we are seeking expert advice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the UK.”
The government stated its commitment to environmental protection and adherence to international standards: “We are committed to protecting our marine environment and upholding international standards, and we will keep the public informed of the findings of the investigation when they become available.”