MAPUTO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi laid the foundation stone for the Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Center (MCSCC) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) here on Monday, marking the official start of the construction of the regional body for fishery resources.

The center, valued at 113 million Mozambican meticais (about 1.8 million U.S. dollars), will be built in the Katembe district of the capital, Maputo.

The center aims to coordinate efforts and measures with the goal of improving the monitoring, control, and inspection of fisheries in order to eradicate illegal and undeclared fishing activities, according to Nyusi.

"Activities such as hydrocarbon exploration, tourism, and scientific research, among others, are susceptible to illegal behaviors and practices such as drug trafficking, piracy, illegal fishing, and pollution, among others, forcing us to combat illegal activities at sea and take strict measures," said Nyusi during his speech launching the construction of the center.

Nyusi stressed that maritime exploitation must be sustainable so that it remains the primary source of the country's food and income.

The center was created in 2023 by SADC member states and will be financed by the World Bank. The country has a coastline of about 2,700 km, and the sea is its main source of livelihood.

Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries Lidia Cardoso said at the ceremony that the symbolic act of laying the foundation stone opens a new page in the process of joint regional work by the member states.

Mozambique loses 60 million U.S. dollars every year due to illegal fishing activities, according to the minister. Enditem

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