The Ivorian Navy maritime interdiction operations (MIO) boarding team found themselves applying training faster than expected when they responded to a suspected illegal fishing incident off the coast of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire March 26 during exercise Obangame Express 2017.

At sea, you never know when training will turn into real-world application.

Obangame Express is a multinational maritime exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and facilitated annually by U.S Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Originally tasked with conducting at-sea search and rescue training as part of the Obangame Express exercise scenario, the Cote d'Ivoire Navy detected a vessel suspected of fishing in restricted waters, and transitioned into real-world operations; dispatching their MIO team to engage with the vessel.

"Upon boarding, they discovered the vessel was not only fishing illegally, but fishing without a valid fishing license," said Ivorian Navy Capt. Yeman Sran Achille, Ivorian Chief of Operations. "The illegal vessel was ordered to port and the Cote d'Ivoire Navy resumed the search and rescue exercise scenario."

The illegal fishing vessel and crew are currently at the Cote d'Ivoire Naval base port awaiting a final ruling. The base captain stated the fine for fishing in restricted waters is approximately 30 million West African CFA francs ($50,000), and for fishing without a license is even greater.

These types of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) incidents are exactly what Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, Vice Adm. Christopher Grady said exercises like Obangame Express are trying to combat.

"Skills developed during exercises like Obangame Express have a lasting impact on regional security," said Grady during the Obangame Express 2017 opening ceremony in Accra, Ghana. "Training during past exercises directly led to real-world successes in countering illegal, unreported and unreported fishing, as well as deterring piracy and hijacking attempts."

The Cote d'Ivoire Navy actively patrols their waters where the artisanal and industrial fishing industry of Cote d'Ivoire is spread over its 550 kilometer coastline and the 200,000 square kilometers of their economic exclusion zone.

"The challenge to monitor this area is tremendous because you can't have all your ships at sea all the time," said Achille. "We're setting up a network of radars along the coastline to help build maritime domain awareness [to] let us know what is going on; where."

These efforts by the Cote d'Ivoire Navy are to protect one of the world's richest fishery grounds teeming with snapper, grouper, sardines, mackerel and shrimp that have slowly started to dwindle.

According to a 2014 Interpol Environmental Security Sub-Directorate report titled, "Study On Fisheries Crime In The West African Coast Region," the domestic production in artisanal fishing has been steadily falling since 2001. The decrease in the Ivorian annual catch is directly related to IUU fishing activities.

The Cote d' Ivoire government is not only combating IUU fishing with front-line maritime interdiction operations and sophisticated radar equipment, they're also implementing a robust legal framework.

"You can't expect people to not fish illegally when the punishment doesn't match the crime," said Achille. "With the new law, I feel like it's a good step forward against the fight of illegal fishing."

Last October, Cote d'Ivoire passed Law No. 2016-554, which seeks to prevent unlawful practices in fishing and aquaculture. The new law provides for prison sentences ranging from one to five years and a fine ranging from 200 million to 1 billion West African CFA francs for captains of foreign vessels fishing without permission in waters under Ivorian jurisdiction.

"The recent law imposes serious penalties, which will serve to punish and deter bad actors," said U.S. Navy Lt. Guillaume Mok, Obangame legal advisor. "However, successful prosecution depends on proper evidence collection, which is a focal point in exercise Obangame Express."

Exercise Obangame Express 2017 is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to help countries in the Gulf of Guinea and Western Coast of Africa focus more on their capabilities and their effectiveness countering sea based illicit activity.

On March 26, the Cote d'Ivoire Navy proved they are both capable and ready for the challenge.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.