Addis Ababa, 14 August 2025 – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) through the EU-funded ECOFISH Programme, convened a three-day High-Level Technical Consultation in Addis Ababa to deliberate on the establishment of the Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCS-CC) and the IGAD Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA).
Held from 12–14 August 2025, the workshop brought together technical experts and senior representatives from IGAD Member States, Regional Economic Communities, the African Union, regional fisheries bodies, development partners, the private sector, and civil society. Discussions centred on improving fisheries governance in the IGAD region through strengthening MCS, a key pillar of the region’s Blue Economy agenda.
Opening the meeting on behalf of H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr Daher Elmi, Director of Agriculture and Environment Division, underscored the urgency of regional cooperation:
“Sustainable fisheries development and governance in the region requires our collective actions with a regional approach that promotes sustainability, cooperation, and innovation,” he said.
MCS at the Heart of Fisheries Governance
The proposed IGAD MCS-CC is envisioned as a regional hub to coordinate monitoring, control, and surveillance efforts, strengthen compliance and enhance maritime and inland fisheries security. By fostering cooperation among Member States and aligning with existing maritime security initiatives, the MCS-CC will address transboundary challenges such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, estimated to cost the region hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Dir Ahmed Darar, Director of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Djibouti, stressed that:
“Sustainable fisheries management demands cooperation, innovation, and tailored solutions that reflect the unique realities of both coastal and landlocked nations.”
H.E. Dr Fikru Regassa, State Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia, reaffirmed the host country’s leadership role in advancing IGAD’s fisheries agenda:
“Ethiopia, in its role as the host country, expresses its unwavering commitment to the IGAD Blue Economy Agenda and the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2021–2025. We acknowledge the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling common challenges, fostering resilience, and creating opportunities — not only for the present but also for future generations.”
Partnerships and Shared Learning
The workshop was also marked by strong collaboration between IGAD and the IOC, with Mr. Marc Maminiaina, Officer in Charge of the IOC, highlighting the inclusive nature of the platform:
“This workshop will serve as an inclusive platform for experience-sharing and partnership building, ensuring that lessons from other regional mechanisms are adapted to the IGAD context, and that both inland and marine fisheries are addressed in a common but differentiated approach tailored to regional realities.”
Roadmap for Action
Over the three days, participants examined institutional, governance, and financing frameworks for the MCS-CC, drawing lessons from other regional mechanisms such as the SADC MCS Coordination Centre in Mozambique and the IOC’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Plan (PRSP). The workshop concluded with consensus on a phased roadmap for operationalising the MCS-CC, alongside strategies for resource mobilisation and partnerships.
The event also reviewed progress on establishing the IGAD Fisheries Forum Agency, which will complement the MCS-CC by providing a dedicated platform for fisheries and aquaculture cooperation across the region.
Strategic Commitment to the Blue Economy
The strengthening of MCS is embedded in IGAD’s Vision 2050 and Five-Year Corporate Strategy, and forms part of the organisation’s commitment to the sustainable management of natural resources under its Blue Economy framework. By addressing governance gaps, building institutional capacity, and promoting regional integration, IGAD aims to transform fisheries into a driver of economic resilience and prosperity for millions of people in the Greater Horn of Africa.
The workshop was made possible through the financial and technical support of the European Union via the ECOFISH Programme, and the collaboration of the Government of Ethiopia as host.
