The Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, called today (22) in Maputo for regional and international dialogue so that illegal fishing is classified as a transnational crime and “severely punished”.
“Our country is in favour of regional and international consultation so that illegal, unregulated and undeclared fishing is classified as a transnational crime and should be severely punished due to its seriously harmful effects,” said Filipe Nyusi at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC).
The head of state, quoted by the Lusa news agency, explained that the construction of the MCSCC in the district of Katembe, on the outskirts of Maputo, which will be officially set up in 2023, should be completed in 15 months, with funding from the World Bank.
“Its implementation required a letter of commitment and accession to be signed by each member state. This was a very long and time-consuming process, but thanks to our persistent diplomacy, consultation and determination, 12 of the 16 SADC countries have already signed the document, allowing construction of the Centre to begin,” he added.
The SADC Declaration of Commitment to Combat Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing (IUU) was approved by the Community’s fisheries ministers in July 2008, identifying as priority areas, among others, “the improvement of regional and inter-regional cooperation with a view to eradicating illegal fishing”.
“It was in this context that Mozambique was one of the pioneers in embracing initiatives to clamp down on these harmful practices, through the exchange and sharing of information on illegal vessels,” said Filipe Nyusi, adding that by joining this “great, unique and innovative endeavour that will serve as a blueprint for the region, SADC is demonstrating its high sense of responsibility”. And he emphasised: “the strong interconnectedness in the marine domain, reflected in the growing demand for maritime space for different purposes, other than just fishing or transport, requires a holistic, integrated and cross-border approach from all of us. Activities such as hydrocarbon exploration, tourism, scientific research, among others, are susceptible to illegal behaviour and practices, with an emphasis on drug trafficking, illegal fishing and pollution, among others.”
The Mozambican President argued that the sea “is an important natural resource whose exploitation must be sustainable so that it always remains the primary source of food and income within the framework of the blue economy, which has been promoted by Mozambican President”.
Filipe Nyusi explained that the MCSCC’s mandate is to “coordinate efforts and measures aimed at improving the monitoring, control and inspection of fisheries, in order to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing”.
