Nelson Mandela University’s FishFORCE Academy recently introduced a virtual game to assist law enforcement officers in the fisheries crime environment. The game is mobile-based and available on all smartphones.
“FishFORCE wants to hone in on the game-based education model termed ‘gamification’, which will allow users to learn through experience and the use of a virtual environment, while leading them to approach problem-solving through critical thinking,” says FishFORCE chief operating officer Michael de Lange.
FishFORCE developed the game for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), and the Marine and Ocean Crime Priority Crime Committee (Operation Phakisa) to benefit government law enforcement agencies.
FishFORCE, the first ever in Africa and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was launched in 2016 in line with the University’s strategic decision to develop a strong marine and maritime institutional focus.
The game was designed to focus mainly on bridge inspections and specifically the skills required to thoroughly inspect key documents, such as permits, logs, registrations, and transshipments.
De Lange said FishFORCE has also been able to touch on a wider range of topics that are relevant and relatable to a typical Fishery Control Officer (FCO) player, such as bridge inspection, crew interviews, basic gear inspection, hold inspection, evidence of blast fishing, signs of human trafficking, identification of fraud, drugs, and weapons.
The game was developed by a company called SeaMonster, based in Cape Town, and the music was developed by Mandela University alumnus Ngasiirwe Katushabe, who is the technical manager at Madibaz Radio.
