Annual Report

Stop Illegal Fishing Annual Report 2025

Stop Illegal Fishing works to ensure that fish are caught, traded and processed legally, enabling African nations and their people to realise the full economic and social benefits of their fisheries resources and blue growth. Through its core programme areas, policy development and practical support to enforcement officers, SIF works to strengthen compliance, transparency and accountability. As the importance of the blue economy continues to grow, the effective protection and sustainable management of fisheries resources is increasingly vital for securing government revenue, livelihoods and food security.

SIF operates across sub-Saharan Africa through a wide range of initiatives delivered in partnership with regional bodies, governments and development partners, with a strong and sustained focus on Southern Africa, where 82% of its grant portfolio is directed, alongside targeted engagement in West Africa.

In 2025, SIF placed particular emphasis on supporting the operationalisation of the SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre, including strengthening the roles of its Board of Directors and Operational Task Force, and working closely with partners to advance the Centre’s strategic objectives. A major milestone was the approval of the Regional Register of Fishing Vessels Code, marking an important step forward in enhancing regional transparency and combating illegal fishing. SIF also supported the launch of the SADC Atlantic States project, co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and the European Union, further expanding its regional impact. In addition, SIF contributed significantly as lead authors of the FAO Technical Paper 723, supporting global efforts to implement the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity and reinforcing its role as a trusted technical partner in fisheries governance.