The training’s participants included technical officers from the fisheries monitoring and control departments of all six FCWC Member States and personnel from the FCWC Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC). The key outcomes of the training are enhanced regional capacity to detect IUU fishing and marine pollution, the integration of earth observation data into fisheries surveillance workflows, and greater harmonisation of monitoring tools across the region.
The Gulf of Guinea’s marine and coastal resources support the livelihoods of millions but remain under persistent threat from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, oil spills, and unregulated transhipment at sea. Recognising the need for innovative, technology-driven solutions to these challenges, the MarCNoWA project developed a user-friendly web-based platform that leverages Earth Observation (EO) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.
Through this training, FCWC Member States are being supported to adopt and integrate this digital tool into their national MCS systems. The training was delivered in both English and French over two days, combining theoretical sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on case studies.
Day 1 focused on platform familiarisation and the use of the portal for real-time vessel monitoring. Participants were introduced to the platform interface and practised using its features to track vessel movements, monitor transshipments, and identify risk patterns.
Day 2 introduced participants to basic programming concepts using Python and Jupyter Notebooks to visualise and analyse AIS data. Practical sessions helped trainees apply their learning through structured case studies, laying the foundation for integrating data science approaches into fisheries intelligence workflows.
The training provided a collaborative learning space where participants shared national experiences and explored how the MarCNoWA portal could be used to strengthen coordination across Member States. By standardising the use of such tools and building technical confidence in data handling, the training supports FCWC’s Strategic Action Plan (2021–2030) objectives of enhancing regional governance, transparency, and enforcement capabilities in the fisheries sector.
