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On 10/13/2009 3:45:13 PM Commander Benjamin Benson, U.S. Coast Guard wrote
At a recent maritime security related meeting in Dakar, Senegal, we had the opportunity to discuss the issue of aligning maritime laws in Africa. Differences in laws is one of the issues that needs to be resolved for African and other partner nations to better cooperate in maritime security activities.
In fisheries for example, different West African countries take slightly different approaches to protect their stocks. While net mesh size rules protect a species in one country, different mesh size rules in the neighboring country leave that same species vulnerable to overfishing. International obligations, such as compliance with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), also need to be incorporated into countries' legal systems for effective enforcement.
One tool available to help countries ensure their legal systems are effective is the recently updated Model Maritime Service Code. This U.S. Coast Guard-produced resource can assist countries in the creation or revision of the legislative, regulatory or policy governance structures for their maritime service, and comply with international obligations. The code, which can be used in parts or in its entirety, provides the legal framework to address emerging maritime safety and security concerns, including the protection of mariner rights and the effective flow of global commerce, pollution prevention, protection of living marine resources, preservation of the marine environment and counter human and drug trafficking.
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