Maputo, 12 Jun (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Thursday inaugurated the Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Enforcement Coordination Centre, aimed at protecting marine resources whose illegal exploitation causes estimated annual losses of around 400 million US dollars in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The infrastructure –which is located in the municipal district of KaTembe, in Maputo– represents a strengthening of the region’s collective capacity to protect strategic resources, strengthen regional cooperation, and promote the sustainable use of marine resources.
During the inauguration, Chapo called for regional coordination, robust institutions and mutual trust in the fight against illegal fishing in Africa.
“Every vessel that catches fish illegally represents revenue that could still reach our countries’ coffers. It represents job opportunities that could be created and wealth that could benefit African communities”, he said.
According to the President, combating illegal fishing requires regional coordination, information sharing between countries, harmonization of procedures, robust technical and institutional capacities, and mutual trust among our states in the region.
“The true value of the Centre will not be measured by the grandeur of its facilities, but by its ability to preserve resources, protect jobs, and support the prosperity it will help build across Southern Africa”, he said.
The President explained that through this infrastructure, SADC member states will be able to strengthen information sharing, improve vessel monitoring, harmonise enforcement, enhance institutional capacities, and promote coordination of operations to combat illegal fishing.
“Illegal fishing represents one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of the region’s fishery resources. In a context where opportunities are increasingly transnational, states achieve more by collaborating. An effective response requires strong regional institutions, with permanent coordination mechanisms and collective solutions to shared challenges”, Chapo said.
The President also expressed gratitude for the support of the World Bank and other cooperation partners who financed the construction of the infrastructure, considering that the investment will contribute to strengthening regional integration and promoting a safer and more prosperous future for the SADC countries.
NL/Am/
