SADC Takes a Stand Against Illegal Fishing with Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Monitoring Center

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in Ka-Tembe, Mozambique. 

This significant event marks a major step forward in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region.

The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Ms. Angéle Makombo N`Tumba and Mozambique’s Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries Ms. Lídia Cardoso, signifies the official launch of construction for the MCSCC.

The establishment of the MCSCC stems from a charter approved by SADC member states in 2017. The center will function as an autonomous institution tasked with coordinating regional efforts to combat IUU fishing and organized fisheries crimes.

“The MCSCC is a crucial step for SADC in its fight against illegal fishing activities,” said Ms. N`Tumba. “By working together, SADC countries can provide a united front to protect our valuable fisheries resources.”

The new center will offer a range of services to member states, including:

-Coordination of regional fisheries data and information sharing.

-Development and management of a regional fishing vessel register and monitoring system.

-Support for regional fisheries surveillance, observer programs, and port state measures.

-Legal and enforcement support for fisheries regulations.

-Capacity building for national fisheries monitoring and control systems.

The MCSCC is not only expected to strengthen regional integration but also contribute to economic development and empower communities like Ka-Tembe, where the center is being built.