The Southern African Development Community (SADC) successfully convened its 43rdTechnical Committee on Fisheries (TCF) from 26 to 27 March 2026. The meeting brought together government officials from ministries responsible for Aquaculture and Fisheries from 16 countries of SADC, regional partners, and stakeholders committed to fostering sustainable fisheries management across the region. The TCF forum established in accordance with the SADC Protocol on Fisheries, adopted on August 14th, 2001, in Blantyre, Malawi. The Protocol, endorsed by SADC Heads of State and Government, aims to maximize the benefits of fisheries and aquaculture across the region by promoting responsible, sustainable management of aquatic resources and ecosystems.
Hosted by the Republic of South Africa, the current SADC Chair, the gathering aimed to review progress on critical initiatives, including the domestication of the Protocol on Fisheries, the Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the SADC Region (PROFISHBLUE) Project, and the establishment of the Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in Mozambique. Participants also examined technical and policy documents slated for validation and subsequent endorsement by regional Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries, and Aquaculture.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Ndapanda Kanime, Acting Director for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the SADC Secretariat, underscored the importance of regional collaboration. “Your presence here reflects your unwavering commitment to the sustainable management and protection of our fisheries resources,” she emphasised. “We remain dedicated to supporting Member States in strengthening collective efforts to ensure fisheries continue to contribute to food security, economic growth, and regional integration”.
Regional partners and development agencies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting fisheries initiatives through technical assistance and funding, recognizing that such support is vital to achieving the region’s sustainable fisheries development goals.
Looking ahead, the upcoming joint Ministerial meeting scheduled for May 2026 is expected to endorse several key policies and projects, further cementing regional commitments to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
The meeting concluded with a call for active engagement and strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders, highlighting the sector’s potential to drive economic growth while safeguarding vital ecosystems for future generations.
