Ebene, Mauritius – 5 September 2025 – The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) held the 12th and final meeting of the Working Group of National Observer Programme Coordinators (WG-NOPC) on 4–5 September 2025 in Ebene, Mauritius, under the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Plan (PRSP). The meeting was organised with the support of the ECOFISH Programme and funding from the European Union.
Marking the 15th anniversary of the Observer Programme, the meeting featured the distribution of equipment worth €90,000, including personal safety gear (shoes, helmets, life jackets, high-visibility clothing), navigation and monitoring tools (GPS devices and accessories), and IT equipment for data collection and entry at sea. These resources strengthen the capacity of fisheries observers, who embark on vessels to collect data on catches, discards, and interactions with the marine environment. Supported by the IOC and the EU, the Observer Programme complements patrols and activities under the PRSP, contributing to sustainable fisheries management.
«Providing equipment directly supports observers in the field and ensures the collection of accurate, reliable, and comparable data across fleets. Better tools mean better data, and better data ensures stronger fisheries management across the region», said Joanne Lucas, Head of Fisheries at the Seychelles Fisheries Authority and Data Management Officer for the Observer Programme..
Sustaining the Observer Programme’s Achievements
The Working Group of National Observer Programme Coordinators serves as a key forum to improve and sustain fisheries observation in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Achievements include:
-
-
Signing a memorandum of understanding on the certification and coordination of scientific observers in coastal states, including data exchange, which now forms the legal framework for observer activities and the Working Group.
-
Establishing and strengthening national observer programmes, supported by letters of commitment from eight participating Southwest Indian Ocean states (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania).
-
Providing equipment tailored to each country’s needs, officially handed to delegations during the meeting.
-
Dr. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries of Mauritius, emphasized, « The monitoring, control, and surveillance programme is highly relevant. We must work together, implement appropriate training, and promote information sharing, which is increasingly important». IOC Secretary-General Edgard Razafindravahy added, «We count on your expertise to ensure that the legal, technical, and operational tools developed meet the needs of observers while strengthening the coherence of our regional action. ».
The regional Working Group is also tasked with observer certification at the sub-regional level, and a procedure for coordinating observer deployment and secure data sharing has been agreed. The goal of sustaining these achievements for the long-term sustainability of fisheries is clear. « We must explore alternative financial strategies and mechanisms, including regional cost-sharing models, public-private partnerships, and national contributions, to make the Working Group self-sufficient and ensure the long-term viability of the programme, », stated Collins Kambu Ndoro, Deputy Director of Fisheries of Kenya and Chair of the 12th Working Group.
The IOC, which coordinates the PRSP and Observer Programme, commended the active participation of island and coastal states and highlighted the crucial support of the European Union, which strengthened the technical and material capacities of fisheries observers.
