Presentation
The STRONG High Seas project (“Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas”) explores ways to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) through enhanced regional governance, including the strengthening of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) measures.
In this context, IDDRI and the Secretariat of the Abidjan Convention organised a two-day online experts’ workshop entitled “Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Human Activities in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) in Western Africa” (5 and 6 May 2021). The workshop gathered around 40 MCS experts of the Southeast Atlantic region, with representatives from governments, regional organisations, NGOs and academia.
Based on the experts’ workshop, literature reviews and interviews with relevant stakeholders, this report explores the challenges of MCS in the Southeast Atlantic region, highlighting best practice examples, ongoing initiatives developed both at national and regional levels, and provides recommendations for decision-makers to strengthen MCS.
The report concludes that Southeast Atlantic States can strengthen MCS in the region through improving the collection and sharing of data, enhanced cooperation and coordination, the harmonization of legislation and deterrent sanctions, investing in capacity-building and through more involvement in global and regional processes.
