The Comorian fishing sector, essentially artisanal and small-scale, plays a vital role in national life. With an annual production estimated at 10,000 tonnes, it ensures food security and income for more than 140,000 people, which represents a significant portion of the nation’s 866,311 inhabitants. Beyond direct employment, fishing provides an essential safety net for disadvantaged groups and contributes significantly to the local economy. However, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a serious threat to Comoros’ maritime resources and livelihoods. Activities such as unauthorized fishing, under-reporting of catches and use of illegal gear undermine sustainable practices, leading to economic losses and environmental damage.
To meet this challenge, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized innovative training for six agents from the Comoros Fisheries Monitoring Center. This Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) training focused specifically on combating crime in the fishing sector. The training, which equipped participants with relevant skills and modern techniques, covered the use of MDA platforms such as Seavision and Skylight, as well as satellite data analysis. “This training is timely,” said Kamal Mohamed, fisheries inspector in charge of ICT and VMS. “We recently acquired new detection tools, and this program will significantly improve our ability to integrate these platforms for effective monitoring of fishing activity.
This training marks a historic first collaboration between UNODC and the Comoros Fisheries Monitoring Center. It aligns perfectly with the UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, particularly Investment Area 3, which prioritizes the protection of Africa’s resources and livelihoods. “The knowledge acquired will allow me to better protect the marine resources of the Comoros,” said Inspector Mohamed. “I can now make more informed decisions about data processing and the deployment of means to intercept offenders.
This MDA course complements the Centre’s existing toolkit. Recent acquisitions such as the Themis and Meta platforms, as well as the introduction to satellite imagery provided by UNODC, further strengthen the operational capabilities of the Center.
The training was funded by the Japanese government under the “Strengthening Maritime Security and Rule of Law” project: “Strengthening maritime security and the rule of law at sea in Africa to maintain a free maritime space and open towards a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
