The last meeting of the Steering Committee of the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Plan (PRSP) of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) at the start of the week saw the stages leading to the establishment of a regional fishing center.
A fishing center for fisheries to strengthen the fight against illegal, unsuccessful and unregulated fishing (INN) in the South West Basin of the Indian Ocean. This mechanism of regional cooperation in the field of peaches has been supported since its inception, 15 years ago, by the European Union through various programs, including the EcoFish program which matters. It was during the meeting of the PRSP steering committee on August 25 and 26, 2025 that the milestones of the PRSP perpetuate, including the implementation of this regional fishing center, were laid. Such a center aims to maintain and develop PRSP achievements over time. It should be remembered that Inn fishing in the Southwest Basin of the Indian Ocean represents a serious threat to the area on the economic and environmental level, impacting on the sustainability of marine resources, on the preservation of marine ecosystems, and on the coastal communities which depend on these resources.
Regional patrols
As part of the ECOFISH program, the participating countries of the PRSP (the member states of the Co, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Somalia) continued the organization of regional missions. In addition to sea patrols, air missions, satellite means, human and material resources have been mobilized. Thus, 65 regional patrols were organized, 12 of which are part of the Ecofish program, and some others with the assistance of the Reunion region through the Interreg V program. As a reminder, the PRSP made it possible to control 723 ships at sea, to note 137 offenses and to re be involved at the port of 21 boats. In addition, 41 air missions to control 545 ships were conducted; Nearly 8 million monitoring data for satellite ships have been exchanged; Another 240 fishing inspectors and 49 observers benefited from technical training. So many achievements that demonstrate the relevance and effectiveness of the PRSP in terms of deterrence and repression in the face of the Inn fishing phenomenon. With the arrival of the Ecofish program, a new operational challenge presents itself to the great players of the PRSP. However, not stopping on such a good path, the states participating in this regional peach surveillance plan intend to take up this challenge, ensuring the sustainability of this regional system which has demonstrated its effectiveness.
Collected by Hanitra R.