The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, has started construction of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre by laying the foundation stone of the project in the district of Katembe, in Maputo. This symbolic act marked the official start of work on this regional body dedicated to fisheries resources.
The centre, with an investment of around 113 million Mozambican meticais (about 1.8 million US dollars), aims to coordinate efforts and measures to improve the monitoring, control and inspection of fisheries in order to eradicate illegal and unreported fishing activities.
In his speech at the ceremony, Nyusi stressed that activities such as hydrocarbon exploitation, tourism and scientific research are subject to illegal behaviour and practices, such as drug trafficking, piracy, illegal fishing and pollution. These issues demand a fight against illicit activities at sea and the adoption of strict measures.
The President also emphasised the need for sustainable use of the sea, essential if the sea is to remain a primary source of food and income for the country. The centre was created in 2023 by SADC member states and will be funded by the World Bank. Mozambique, with a coastline of around 2,700 km, depends greatly on the sea for its livelihood.
The Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, said at the ceremony that laying the foundation stone opens a new page in the regional joint working process by the member states. According to the minister, Mozambique loses around 60 million US dollars a year because of illegal fishing activities.
