On 11 and 12 March, Belgium participated in the two‑day European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) workshop “Implementation of Multipurpose Maritime Operations (MMOs) and use of innovative technologies in fisheries control activities”, organised in Chioggia (Italy). This small town counts no fewer than 400 registered fishing vessels and brought together fisheries and safety partners around cooperation at sea, innovative control tools and forward‑looking enforcement.
The Belgian delegation consisted of Senne Vanlauwe (Fisheries Service), Evelyn Neefs (DG Shipping) and Eefje Deweer (Coast Guard Administration).
The workshop was opened by representatives of the Italian Coast Guard, EFCA and the European Commission, who emphasised the importance of joint maritime actions in a rapidly changing geopolitical and technological context. EFCA provided an overview of the existing MMOs in, among others, the North Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.
The added value of the MMO approach lies in the cooperation between Member States, the shared use of assets such as patrol vessels, Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) platforms and satellite imagery, more efficient enforcement, and improved maritime situational awareness.
Senne Vanlauwe (Fisheries Service) provided insight into the Belgian perspective within MMO operations and the role of fisheries control in this context. During the 2025 MMO, an RPAS was deployed to explore the possibilities of this type of surveillance. He highlighted the added value of an RPAS and the importance of cross‑border operations. An important case for the service was discussed, including how the RPAS within the MMO contributed to it. The presentation showed that the service has been able to carry out successful inspections during past MMO operations on various types of fishing vessels.
Other Member States also shared experiences: France emphasised the importance of interaction between national inspection teams and EFCA’s operational patrol vessels. Italy presented cases involving illegal octopus and shellfish activities, in which drones, patrol vessels and cooperation with, among others, the Guardia di Finanza (Italian customs service) played a crucial role.
The European Union Satellite Centre (SATCEN) demonstrated how super‑resolution satellite images are used for risk assessment, migration management and the preparation of MMO operations. Finland explained the EU exercise programme MARSEC EU 26, focused on cybersecurity, hybrid threats and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
