The continuing importance of Africa's maritime security has been highlighted by the widespread acts of piracy increasingly reported off the coasts of Somalia and Nigeria. Just as troubling as these dramatic incidents is the increase in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in African waters (IUU fishing).

These threats are of particular concern to SADC, whose coasts and shipping lanes are extremely vulnerable. This constitutes a serious challenge to the development and stability of the region, given the importance of SADC's international seaborne trade and the vital contribution of pelagic resources to regional food-stocks and economic development. Yet it remains questionable whether the gravity of the situation is fully appreciated within the SADC region and whether there is the political will to develop the military/policing capacity to address it.

In 2005, the British Marine Assessment Group estimated that IUU fishing off Africa costs the continent nearly US$ 1 billion annually. In Angolan waters alone illegal fishing in only the sardine and mackerel industries amounted to roughly $49 million annually, more than a fifth of the total value of Angolan fish exports; off Mozambique illegal fishing in the tuna and shrimp industry was set at nearly $38 million.

Piracy also presents an increasing threat for SADC. At present most attention is given to this phenomenon off the coast of Somalia, where incidents continue to increase. In 2009 alone, 214 ships were attacked by Somali pirates, 47 were actually seized and 867 crew members taken hostage. Reports from the International Maritime Bureau suggest that the annual rate of Somali pirate attacks nearly doubled in the previous year. As international shipping and transport fleets began to steer clear of the Somali coast, the pirates moved their operations north to the Gulf of Aden, and further south into the Indian Ocean. The increased security risk presented to shipping companies led to a 15 percent spike in insurance premiums, which translated into an increase of shipping costs for African exporters and importers. Maritime patrols by NATO, the EU, and the navies of nations such as Russia and India, have forced the pirates to extend their operations, and they are moving south towards the Mozambique Channel. Piracy has also increasingly been moving south from the West African coast towards the shores of Angola and Namibia.

A factor preventing African nations, especially those of SADC, from protecting their own waters is their modest capacity and the lack of political will to remedy this situation. The African states of the Mediterranean littoral have the majority of the continent's naval assets and these are not practically available for deployment in sub-Saharan waters. Shrinking defence budgets and a lack of political interest in maritime matters have left SADC's navies and coastguard in a state of disrepair. There are currently only five frigates, seven medium-range patrol aircraft, and 18 short-range coastal patrol craft belonging to Sub-Saharan nations to patrol the 7.8 million square kilometers of coast south of the Sahara. Four of these frigates belong to the South African Navy and South Africa does not provide support or maritime patrols outside South African waters unless assistance is requested from a neighboring SADC nation.

This is not to say that SADC is doing nothing. In March 2009, the SAS Sarah Baartman, an off-shore environmental protection vessel, completed a four nation transboundary fisheries patrol in South African, Mozambican, Tanzanian, and Kenyan waters. Inspectors from all four countries joined the ship and were responsible for the arrest of six foreign vessels and the inspection of more than 40 vessels. The joint patrol was the first ever multilateral patrol simultaneously involving four Sub-Saharan countries, and was aimed at improving and strengthening fisheries surveillance and law enforcement in the SADC region as well as increasing co-operation between fisheries surveillance organizations.

The maritime component of SADC also convened in Maputo in August 2010 to promote co-operation and relationships in the region. This coincided with regional naval exercises and the 16th meeting of the Standing Maritime Committee (SMC) of SADC, which was hosted by the Mozambique Navy. As part of the regional naval exercises, South Africa deployed a frigate, a combat support vessel, an offshore patrol vessel, an element of navy divers, the Maritime Reaction squadron, as well as elements from the South African Air Force and South African Military Health Services. Zimbabwe deployed divers to the exercise and various other states of SADC committed military and naval personnel. During the exercise the forces conducted joint patrols and training exercises along the South African coast and in the Mozambique Channel.

If the threat of illegal fishing and piracy is seen in the context of the role the sea plays in SADC's economy and international commerce, there can be no doubt that maritime security is essential for SADC's continued economic and political stability. But maintaining a navy or coastguard that can effectively police the threats presented to SADC's maritime security requires huge financial and political resources beyond the capacities of most SADC states except that of South Africa.

An integrated approach between the naval and financial resources of the 14 SADC member states will be essential to minimise the economic strains on any single country of combating what is a regional and continental problem.

Written by: Anton Kruger. Intern, Peace Missions Programme, ISS Pretoria