On 9 March 2023, Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) delivered a message of support at the signing ceremony of the SADC Charter for the Establishment of the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) by Botswana’s Honourable Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Molebatsi Shimane Molebatsi.

Stop Illegal Fishing, represented by its chairperson, Mark Ssemakula noted how honoured he was for SIF to be part of the auspicious event which has been over two decades in the making.

He explained that SIF’s first activity had been to support the SADC Secretariat and Member States to develop the Statement of Commitment to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2008. Mark Ssemakula stated “Since that time, illegal operators have been fined, vessels have been confiscated, and corrupt networks have been disrupted. Through this, a much greater understanding about IUU fishing operators has been developed, and with this knowledge we have been better armed to overcome it. But if we have learnt one thing, it is that we can only fight this plague together, united in our work. Therefore, today is without doubt a significant milestone in giving our enforcement personnel the political and practical support they need to put an end to IUU fishing in Southern Africa.”

Mark Ssemakula reaffirmed SIF’s support to the SADC region by assisting the MCSCC through our partnerships with the US State Department and the US Embassy in Gaborone, The Waterloo Foundation, Oceans5, FAO, WWF and FishFORCE.

“Thank you for allowing Stop Illegal Fishing to participate in today’s historic signing ceremony, and please be assured of our commitment to work with all partners towards our common future – a future without illegal fishing”, said Mark Ssemakula in closing.