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Sky Patrol: Cracking Down on Illegal Fishing in Madagascar

Posted on 5 June 2025

Antsiranana, Madagascar | 23 May 2025 – Madagascar has taken a bold leap forward in its fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, hosting an intensive aerial surveillance training that introduced cutting-edge drone technology to fisheries authorities, government and surveillance agencies, and local stakeholders. The workshop, convened by the Government of Madagascar and WWF-Madagascar in partnership with GRID-Arendal and Distant Imagery, is part of a broader initiative under the Southwest Indian Ocean Sustainable Blue Economy (SWIO-SBE) programme, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

Over three days, participants from the Centre de Surveillance des Pêches (CSP), the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, WWF, and FITSINJO (Independent Fisheries Observatory) received hands-on training in drone assembly and local construction, flight operations integrated to already existing fisheries MCS systems, and real-time surveillance techniques. Live demonstrations were conducted over Diego Bay—showcasing the power of aerial tools in detecting and deterring illegal activity.

“This pilot is more than a technological upgrade—it represents a shift in how we govern our marine resources,” said Umair Shahid, WWF’s Fisheries Lead for the SWIO region. “Drones offer rapid, cost-effective surveillance that can fill key enforcement gaps, especially in remote coastal areas where small-scale fisheries are most active and vulnerable.”

Madagascar, which boasts a coastline stretching over 5,000 kilometers and one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the region, is highly exposed to IUU fishing. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Madagascar’s fisheries sector contributes significantly to national GDP and supports nearly 1.5 million people. Yet, like many coastal states in the region, it faces steep challenges in enforcing fisheries laws.

“The use of remote sensing technologies in combination with UAVs technologies provides a powerful complementary tool for coastal states to better protect their marine resources,enhance transparency and improve overall marine governance” said Romain Langeard, GRID-Arendal’s Fisheries Governance Expert. “We are proud to support Madagascar in this pioneering effort, and look forward to expanding this work here as well as to other countries in the region.”

Rijasoa Fanazava, Executive Director of the Centre for Fisheries Surveillance (CSP) at the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, underscored the importance of the initiative for national enforcement capacity. “This training marks a significant step forward for Madagascar. By integrating aerial surveillance into our national fisheries strategy, we are addressing critical technical gaps in terms of capacities by embracing innovation that will help us protect our oceans and support the communities that depend on them.”

The aerial monitoring initiative is part of a regional push to scale low-cost Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) tools and strengthen inter-agency coordination in fisheries enforcement. Lessons learned from this pilot will be consolidated into a policy brief for regional bodies, including the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC), and the SADC MCS Coordination Centre in Maputo. WWF, GRID-Arendal and its partners will also develop accessible visual communication materials, including toolkits and infographics, to support community awareness and stakeholder engagement at the national level.

This week’s training laid the foundation for integrating UAVs aerial surveillance into Madagascar’s national fisheries enforcement strategy. With initial tools tested and local capacity now in motion, WWF, the Government of Madagascar, and partners including GRID-Arendal will, over the coming months, continue to build capacity, provide targeted resources, and refine the use of drone-based monitoring to ensure the approach is operational, effective, and locally grounded. These first steps mark a turning point toward a more modernised MCS system addressing actual limitations, and will inform future opportunities for broader deployment across Madagascar and potentially other countries in the region.

“We’re not just training people—we’re laying the foundation for a new model of fisheries governance, grounded in technology, inter-agencies collaboration, and regional solidarity,” said Lalaina Rakotonaivo, WWF Madagascar’s Fisheries Coordinator.

Distant Imagery, the technical partner leading the drone training, emphasized the growing role of innovation in ocean conservation. “This collaboration with WWF and the Government of Madagascar demonstrates how drone technology can be a game-changer for marine monitoring,” said Cory Rhodes, Co-Founder at Distant Imagery. “We’re excited to see these tools put into action for real-world impact.”

The training and drone deployment form part of WWF’s broader vision under the SWIO-SBE programme to support countries in combating IUU fishing, strengthening community stewardship, and promoting a sustainable and inclusive blue economy across the region. This initiative complements other regional efforts to improve transparency, strengthen compliance with international agreements such as the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), and empower coastal communities to play a proactive role in protecting marine biodiversity.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lalaina Rakotonaivo – Fisheries Coordinator, WWF Madagascar – [email protected]
Umair Shahid – SWIO Fisheries Lead, WWF – [email protected]
Romain Langeard – Fisheries Governance Expert, GRID-Arendal – [email protected]