Mombasa: IGAD member states have intensified calls for increased funding and coordinated regional operations to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continues to threaten aquatic biodiversity and marine ecosystems across the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), convened a three-day expert training workshop in Mombasa aimed at strengthening regional capacity in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) systems to combat IUU fishing and safeguard aquatic biodiversity and the environment.
In efforts to operationalise the African Blue Economy Strategy, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has supported AU-IBAR since 2021 to implement the project titled ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the African Blue Economy.’ The project seeks to enhance the institutional capacity of African Union Member States and regional institutions in conserving aquatic biodiversity within the framework of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy.
The project has recently been granted an additional 18-month extension to consolidate gains and ensure comprehensive implementation of pending activities. The capacity-building workshop is funded by SIDA.
Kenya Fisheries Service Acting Director in Charge of Capture Fisheries, Jared Agano, said during a field tour by delegates at the Liwatoni MCS Centre in Mombasa that effective MCS systems are critical to securing sustainable fisheries and effectively tackling IUU fishing. He underscored the need for stronger regional collaboration to address aquatic threats facing member states.
Agano emphasized the necessity of conducting regional patrols, which requires member states to review their national laws and policies to harmonise legislation and enable IGAD member states to carry out regular MCS patrols in the region. He proposed developing a sustainable funding model to facilitate regular patrols and surveillance operations aimed at eradicating IUU fishing, noting the significant costs involved, particularly for offshore patrols.
Sarah Nakaziba, Principal Fisheries Officer at Mayuge District Local Government in Uganda, stated that the training came at an opportune time. She praised Kenya’s effective MCS systems and called for donor support to strengthen surveillance efforts on Lake Victoria. Nakaziba highlighted the recent Fisheries and Aquaculture Act of 2023, which supports the use of technology in conducting monitoring, control, and surveillance, moving away from reliance on military oversight with the establishment of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).
Noora Mohammed Ali, a Solid Waste Management Officer, commended Kenya for maintaining a clean marine environment, noting the absence of garbage or liquid waste. She expressed eagerness to apply the lessons learned from the training in her own country.
