History of TMT
TMT was founded in 2013 by Gunnar Album, Kjartan Hoydal, Jan Thomas Odegard, and Duncan Copeland with the express purpose of providing technical assistance to countries and international organisations with capacity and resource gaps so they could identify, analyse and use fisheries intelligence in their fisheries enforcement operations.
Through extensive experience of working with countries in various regions of the world, particularly in Africa, TMT’s founders clearly saw the gap in the systematic collection and analysis of fisheries intelligence, and the need for it to be shared, particularly with those countries that did not have the experience to gather and analyse fisheries intelligence, or the resources to manage their fisheries effectively.
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TMT was in part born from an older organisation called Stiftelse Trygg Mat (‘Safe Food Foundation’ in Norwegian) and carried this name into the new organisation as Stiftelse Trygg Mat Tracking - abbreviated to TMT. This continues to be the registered name of the organisation in our home country of Norway. However, as the focus of the organisation has evolved and to avoid confusion that may arise from this history (and the hybrid Norwegian-English name!), in 2022 the decision was made to end the public use of Trygg Mat Tracking and instead use the name TMT in our external presentation of the organisation.
Each of the founders brought key experiences and knowledge to TMT.
TMT Co-Founder, Gunnar Album​
Gunnar Album was a pioneer in the field of dedicated analysis and tracking of fishing vessels and their owners. He strongly believed in the right of mankind to have access to and benefit from the resources of the oceans, but that this right was also a responsibility that must be carefully managed for the good of all, now and future. His work was instrumental in highlighting the significant gaps in available information on fisheries operations, and his collbaoration with government agencies, RFMOs and other relevant bodies demonstrated the value of intelligence and its contribution to effective enforcement actions.​
TMT Co-Founder, Kjartan Hoydal
Kjartan Hoydal served as TMT’s first Board Chair. For many years Kjartan was a true champion of efforts to end illegal fishing, serving the international fisheries community as Head of the Faroese Fisheries Administration, Secretary of the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), Chair of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network (RSN), on the Board of various institutions, and as President of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Kjartan’s dedication and tireless efforts to the founding of TMT was integral to the organisation getting off the ground.
TMT Co-Founder, Jan Thomas Odegard
Jan Thomas Odegard has worked on environmental and development issues for 30 years as director, board member and program manager with NGOs and foundations, with the UN and the private sector, as well as being an activist, university researcher and freelance journalist. Jan Thomas has been intrumental in establishing the strategic development plans of TMT, and the institutional and adminstrative structures of the organisation. Jan Thomas continues to play a crucial governance role at TMT, and has been TMT’s Board Chair since 2016.
TMT Co-Founder, Duncan Copeland
Duncan Copeland has had a career focus on the ‘pointy-end’ of IUU fishing and associated crime. He has worked extensively on these issues globally, but particularly in Africa. Duncan brought the front-line operational experience and country partner relationships to TMT, and his strong belief in the value and need for State and non-State actor cooperation drove TMT’s strategic development and focus. As TMT’s Executive Director from 2014 to 2024, Duncan successfully steered TMT through its initial start-up challenges, forging important partnerships, overseeing operations, raising funds, creating the institutional structure, and building a talented team committed to reducing illegal fishing and improving ocean governance globally.
Following the sad passing of Gunnar in 2014 and Kjartan in 2016, the team were determined to carry on the important work and legacy, and it is in their memory and spirit that we carry out our operations today.