The government of Madagascar has approved the move to sign the SADC (South African Development Community) Charter establishing the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) on April 28, the regional bloc said on Friday.
The objective of the charter is to provide a legal framework for the establishment and operationalisation of the MCSCC, which will coordinate measures relating to fisheries monitoring control and surveillance (MCS) in the SADC region.
During the signing ceremony the Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar, Dr Paubert T Mahatante said that IUU fishing is a global problem that requires a global approach and advocated for SADC member states to work together towards finding a regional solution.
“Madagascar already has a network of MCS infrastructure and maritime security, which will benefit the regional efforts in combating IUU fishing and fisheries related crimes. The country is also strategically positioned as a sub-hub to provide better co-ordination of sub-regional efforts in the South West Indian Ocean sub-region.”
Madagascar becomes the 10th member state party to the charter aimed at establishing MCSCC, joining Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.