Why sustainable fisheries start with better data

Across Southern Africa, pressure on fish stocks and coastal resources continues to grow. Countries are strengthening fisheries monitoring, expanding marine protected areas, and increasing efforts to combat IUU fishing. At the same time, the need for sustainable fisheries has never been greater.

Small-scale fisheries are at the heart of this challenge. They support food security, provide income for coastal communities, and contribute to the long-term management of marine resources. Yet managing these activities effectively requires one essential ingredient: reliable data.

Why sustainable fisheries depend on effective monitoring

For fisheries managers, fishermen, and marine protected area managers, understanding what is happening at sea is critical. Without accurate information, it becomes difficult to manage resources, enforce regulations, or protect sensitive ecosystems.

This is particularly true for small-scale fisheries, which often operate in remote areas and may not have access to traditional monitoring systems.

As a result, there is growing demand for tools that can provide better visibility into fishing activities while remaining practical and accessible in the field. Better information leads to better decisions. And better decisions are essential to building sustainable fisheries for the future.

Supporting sustainable fisheries with NEMO

To help address these challenges, CLS developed NEMO, a solution specifically designed for the management of small-scale fisheries.

The platform combines monitoring, reporting, and analytics capabilities in a single solution. Its features include:

• Hybrid mobile and satellite vessel monitoring
• Solar-powered tracking devices for remote areas
• Electronic catch reporting through mobile applications
• Geofencing and marine protected area monitoring
• Fisheries analytics and vessel activity insights
• Bluetooth sensor integration

By bringing together these capabilities, NEMO helps stakeholders gain a clearer picture of fishing activities and supports more informed decision-making. The result is improved visibility at sea and stronger support for the long-term sustainability of fisheries resources.

More than 40 years of fisheries monitoring expertise

The challenge of building sustainable fisheries extends far beyond Southern Africa. Around the world, fisheries authorities, coastal communities, and conservation organisations are seeking reliable ways to balance economic activity with resource protection.

Today, CLS supports fisheries stakeholders worldwide with more than 25,000 beacons and vessels monitored globally. NEMO solutions are deployed in 34 countries, backed by more than 40 years of expertise in satellite-based fisheries monitoring.

As pressure on marine resources continues to increase, access to reliable field data will remain essential. Because protecting fisheries starts with understanding them.