Sky Patrol

Last spring in Antsiranana, Madagascar, drones soared over Diego Bay in an ambitious exercise that may reshape how the country monitors its seas. What began as a simple question "can low-cost drones help authorities detect and deter illegal fishing along one of the largest coastlines in the Western Indian Ocean?" has now grown into a movement. Today, the real question is no longer if this technology works, but how far we are ready to go.

Madagascar's waters are rich, productive, and heavily targeted by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing[1]. For coastal communities, these losses are not abstract statistics, they mean fewer fish in local markets, declining livelihoods, and fragile ecosystems pushed further to the brink[2]. Despite existing laws and national political will[3], traditional Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems struggle to maintain an overview of such vast maritime zones, with low patrol capacity, and the sheer scale of undetected fishing activity[4].

Across the region, countries have made meaningful progress, including strengthened licencing systems, regional cooperation, satellite monitoring, and targeted patrols[5], yet gaps remain, especially in nearshore and remote areas where IUU fishing activity thrives. This is where technological innovation can shift the balance. Tools like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer affordable, rapid-deploy solutions that extend the eyes of enforcement agencies and communities where boats simply cannot go.

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In May 2025, Madagascar's Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Fisheries Monitoring Centre (CSP) WWF, GRID-Arendal, and Distant Imagery conducted a hands-on aerial surveillance demonstration and training in Diego Bay. Over several days, fisheries inspectors, officers in charge of fisheries governance, civil society organization and local authorities jointly tested drone operations, practiced detection scenarios, and witnessed in real time how UAVs can identify vessels, document potential violations, relay evidence instantly to command units, and integrate information into existing surveillance systems. Each organisation brought a unique piece of the puzzle with Distant Imagery arriving on the ground with its field-tested drones and practical know-how, turning the bay into an open-air classroom; GRID-Arendal connecting the dots between technology and policy, guiding participants through how UAVs can slot into Madagascar's wider MCS framework while capturing lessons for future scaling-up; and WWF ensuring the initiative came together seamlessly, coordinating with national authorities and partners so that the exercise strengthened not only technical capacity, but also collaboration across institutions.

But the demo did more than show what drones can do, it showcased what collaboration can achieve. Agencies that usually operates in different area of maritime surveillance were suddenly coordinating deployments, reading live imagery collectively, and assessing potential applications of this technology as a unified taskforce against IUU fishing activities. The energy was palpable and the potential, impossible to ignore.

Since then, a task force has been formed to sustain this momentum, align drone use across ministries and legal framework, and explore long-term integration into national MCS operations. The shift from "demonstration" to "delivery" is underway.

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While full transformation takes time, early signs are encouraging:

· Three national officers have already received basic training to fly the drones safely.

· A short-term overflight authorization has been secured, enabling continued use of the equipment.

· The drones have since been handed over to the Government for follow-up missions.

· Initial test flights helped validate potential applications and are now being considered for full scale integration into the surveillance arsenal.

Across our seas and oceans, more initiatives involving UAVs are emerging, painting a clear picture: drone-supported surveillance is no longer a futuristic ambition but a practical solution ready for wider adoption.

The next step is to put in place a full surveillance unit in the heart of the Malagasy fisheries MCS center, connecting aerial intelligence with other affordable MCS technologies. UAVs complement electronic monitoring, VMS/AIS systems, and community-based reporting, creating a low-cost, multi-layered surveillance scheme suitable for states facing resource limitations. When integrated properly, this combination offers a powerful advantage: Rapid detection from the air, cross-checked with vessel tracking data, followed by targeted inspections at port and possible regional sanctions.

In the coming years, WWF and GRID-Arendal aim to expand technology pilots across the region, engaging governments and donors, including NORAD, to secure long-term capacity, data pipelines, and sustainable financing. With political buy-in in Madagascar already growing, momentum is firmly on the rise.

Technology alone does not stop illegal fishing, people do. One of the most meaningful outcomes of the pilot was the confidence it gave local inspectors and technicians.

As the Executive Director of the Centre de Surveillance des Pêches in Madagascar, Mr M. Rijasoa Fanazava, put it during the workshop:

"For once, we could see what was happening, as it was happening. It changes how we work-and how we believe things can change."

Communities and observers who have long witnessed IUU activity without the means to intervene now see a way to be empowered to stop it. But this is just the beginning. Drones cannot fully replace vessels or trained officers, they catalyse their actions. We must not forget where the next layer of investment must go: Stable regulations, trained local pilots, systematic data sharing, and strong legal follow-up.

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The next chapter is already in motion. Insights from the pilot workshop will feed into WWF and GRID-Arendal's offer of support to Madagascar's national fisheries policy work, illuminating the pathway to embed UAV operations into long-term MCS strategy. With the right support, Madagascar could become a regional model, demonstrating how this technology combined with well-integrated fisheries MCS system can deliver high-impact protection for marine ecosystems.

Scaling from a single pilot site to a regional blueprint will take investment, political commitment, and cross-border learning. Yet the potential benefits-reduced IUU fishing risk, stronger enforcement, healthier fish stocks, empowered communities-far outweigh the challenges.

Stay tuned for more updates, including an Instagram reel and videos of this surveillance approach.

Help us ensure Madagascar's Sky Patrol becomes a regional model.

Share this story, follow our updates, and connect with us if your jurisdiction is exploring similar innovations. Together, we can build a future where technology and community determination work in tandem to protect the oceans we depend on.

Contacts:

- Romain LANGEARD (GRID-Arendal Senior Expert - Marine governance) [email protected] / https://www.grida.no/

- Lalaina RAKOTONAIVO Fisheries Coordinator, WWF Madagascar [email protected]; Home | WWF SWIO