Photo: Fisheries Observer Agency chief executive officer Stanley Ndara
Fisheries Observer Agency chief executive officer Stanley Ndara has been reappointed chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC), securing a second term at the helm of the regional body tasked with combating illegal fishing.
The reappointment was approved by SADC ministers responsible for agriculture, food security, fisheries and aqua-culture during a joint ministerial meeting held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 29 May. The decision extends Ndara’s leadership of the Maputo-based centre, which coordinates regional efforts to monitor fishing activities and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across SADC member states.
Ministers said the renewal would ensure continuity in leadership and strategic direction as the centre strengthens cooperation among member states in managing fisheries resources and protecting marine eco-systems. Alongside Ndara, ministers approved second terms for several board members representing Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Zambia and the SADC Secretariat.
The MCSCC plays a central role in coordinating surveillance operations, information sharing and en-forcement initiatives aimed at curbing illegal fishing, which continues to threaten fish stocks, food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities across the region. The ministers also endorsed the appointment of a new executive di-rector from Zambia for a four-year term, a move expected to strengthen the centre’s operational capacity and regional coordination efforts.
During the meeting, member states were urged to honour outstanding financial commitments to the organisation and actively participate in regional initiatives such as the Regional Register of Fishing Vessels and programmes aimed at eliminating illegal fishing nets.
Ministers further re-affirmed their commitment to sustainable fisheries management by supporting measures to phase out destructive fishing gear, including illegal monofilament nets, which have been linked to environmental damage and declining fish populations. The meeting also acknowledged the support of international development partners and technical agencies that continue to assist the centre in strengthening fisheries governance and combating illegal fishing throughout the SADC region.
By Rudi Bowe
