A major step towards better regional Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems for protecting aquatic biodiversity and managing the environment in Africa was taken on August 21, 2024, by AU-IBAR. The promotion of sustainable fisheries management and the fight against illicit fishing in six-member states (Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia and Nigeria) were the primary goals of this landmark. A crucial partner in our regional MCS initiatives, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) was a part of the mission, which included receiving, verifying, and handing off sophisticated MCS equipment. Honourable Gaston Kossi Dossouhoui, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries of Benin, was present at the ceremony.
The event aimed to verify and hand over the procured MCS equipment to FCWC, ensuring it met the required standards. It included a handover ceremony, efforts to raise awareness among FCWC member states, and discussions on training Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CMA) experts in the region. The outcomes included the successful verification of the MCS equipment, its formal handover to the FCWC RMCSC, increased awareness of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, and the establishment of clear plans for future CMA training.
Key stakeholders at the event included Benin’s Minister of Agriculture, representatives from the Government of Ghana, FCWC secretariat members, AU-IBAR staff, firms contracted to supply the MCS equipment, and other relevant agency representatives.
Established in 2007, the FCWC aimed to foster cooperation among six West African countries in fisheries management. Despite these efforts, West Africa remained a hotspot for illegal fishing, with estimated annual losses of $1.3 billion due to inadequate administrative, legal, and enforcement frameworks. Improved fisheries governance is critical to countering IUU activities and ensuring the sustainability of fisheries resources.
The Regional Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Center (RMCSC), launched in 2020 in Tema, represented a significant step toward enhancing regional fisheries monitoring. However, funding challenges emerged when the initial support period ended in 2022. In response, FCWC sought additional support from ECOWAS and AU-IBAR. This collaborative effort aimed to ensure effective implementation of policies and programs to enhance the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in West Africa.
AU-IBAR’s commitment of up to $150,000 for FCWC’s MCS initiatives—including equipment provision, expert training, and scoping missions—underscored our dedication to strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing aquatic biodiversity management.
Implemented under the FishGov2 Project with funding from the European Union, the event marked a significant advancement in our collective efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and improve environmental management in West Africa. By equipping FCWC with state-of-the-art MCS tools and fostering regional collaboration, we paved the way for a more sustainable future for fisheries across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
