News
Fourth MCSCC Operational Task Force Meeting
On 23–24 March 2026, State Parties to the Charter Establishing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) met in Johannesburg, South Africa, for their fourth Operational Task Force (OTF) meeting. The meeting marked an important step in regional cooperation to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, building on efforts developed by SADC countries over several years. The meeting was attended by 39 delegates representing 12 SADC Member States.
The fourth OTF meeting reviewed progress and made recommendations in several priority areas:
- Advancing regional cooperation through MCSCC mechanisms
- Strengthening engagement via the MCSCC information portal, Basecamp
- Implementing the SADC Regional Register of Fishing Vessels (RRFV)
- Addressing the regional challenge of monofilament nets
- Tackling regulatory and enforcement challenges
- Promoting inter-regional cooperation and alignment with international processes
- Participation and Partnerships
The fourth OTF meeting reinforced the commitment of SADC Member States and partners to strengthen cooperation, enhance information sharing, and take decisive action against IUU and unregulated fishing. By building capacity, supporting informed engagement at regional and international levels, and promoting sustainable fisheries governance, the MCSCC continues to play a critical role in safeguarding the region’s fisheries and advancing a blue economy that benefits all SADC countries.
Stop Illegal Fishing supports the MCSCC through various projects including Oceans Vigilance, SADC Atlantic States and is an active member of the technical team.