The Fisheries Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) Board of Directors convened its second meeting in South Africa from March 4-6, 2025, to advance regional strategies against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This issue poses a significant threat to Namibia’s marine resources and coastal economy.
Chaired by Stanley Ndara, Chief Executive Officer of the Fisheries Observer Agency, the meeting underscored the necessity of operationalizing the MCSCC to fulfill its mandate. This aligns with Namibia’s longstanding commitment to eradicating IUU fishing within the Benguela Current ecosystem and across Southern Africa.
Key outcomes included the endorsement of governance and financial frameworks for the MCSCC, as well as the Regional Register of Fishing Vessels (RRFV) Code. The RRFV aims to establish a harmonized system for tracking fishing vessels within SADC waters.
“Our primary responsibility is to ensure the Centre is well-equipped to achieve its long-term vision of excellence in monitoring, control, and surveillance. A main priority during this meeting was to revisit and refine our governance documents. Securing ministerial approval for these documents is crucial, as they will provide a robust framework for the organization’s governance,” stated Ndara.
For Namibia, a nation heavily reliant on sustainable fisheries, the RRFV is a vital tool for enhancing transparency, curbing illegal fishing, and safeguarding its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The RRFV will also generate revenue through vessel registration, supporting the MCSCC’s long-term sustainability—a priority for Namibia given its leadership in regional fisheries management.
Nine SADC member states—Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia—participated in the meeting, alongside partners such as the African Union Intercontinental Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), TRAFFIC, GIZ, WWF, and Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF). Namibia’s involvement highlights its proactive role in shaping regional strategies against IUU fishing, which undermines both its economy and food security.
The Board validated the MCSCC’s annual work plan, budget, governance manual, and organizational structure, paving the way for ministerial approval at the upcoming SADC Joint Ministers Meeting on Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries, and Aquaculture in May 2025.
Ndara emphasized the MCSCC’s role in translating decades of SADC anti-IUU pledges into concrete action, highlighting Namibia’s vested interest in disrupting transnational fisheries crimes. The meeting also reviewed progress by the MCSCC Operational Task Force, which has initiated phased steps toward the RRFV, including stakeholder consultations. For Namibia, the RRFV’s implementation will strengthen vessel monitoring within its EEZ, aligning with national initiatives such as the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries’ Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and port state measures.
“Regarding the RRFV, we are at a critical juncture where the adoption of a Code or Framework is essential. This adoption will enable Ministers to make clear policy commitments, thereby strengthening the management and regulation of fishing activities,” Ndara reiterated.
Moving forward, Namibia will advocate for the robust adoption of these instruments at the ministerial level, ensuring the MCSCC secures sustainable funding to combat IUU fishing, which costs SADC nations billions annually. By prioritizing regional collaboration and institutional resilience, Namibia aims to protect its marine resources, livelihoods, and global reputation as a leader in fisheries sustainability.