MCSCC planning with SADC Atlantic and Ocean Vigilance  project

The SADC Regional monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) Coordination Centre (SADC MCSCC) project team, the SADC Secretariat and members of Trygg Matt Tracking (TMT) met with the Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) team between 26 and 28 June 2023 in Gaborone.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Oceans Vigilance project to be fully introduced, including an overview, roles and responsibilities and outputs. Oceans Vigilance will support a regional fisheries transparency policy for SADC which will form the SADC minimum standard for fishing vessels to operate in the region, to build capacity towards the framework for a SADC Regional register of fishing vessels. The project will support the piloting of the SADC regional register in interested countries and use evidence drawn from the work to develop capacity to demonstrate the benefits of regional cooperation in this area. Oceans Vigilance is supported by the Oceans Five.

In addition, other joints projects were discussed including the US Embassy funded SADC Atlantic project that covers Angola, Namibia and South Africa and the Waterloo Foundation support for information sharing within the SADC to combat IUU fishing. Maria Eulalia Vales, the MCSCC IPMU Coordinator, discussed the priorities for the MCSCC and roles and deliverables between the projects were aligned with a plan for activities for the rest of 2023.