MOMBASA, Kenya — African countries have been urged to take urgent action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a practice estimated to cost the continent billions of dollars annually while threatening marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
The call came during the launch of the Mombasa Declaration at the Our Ocean Conference (OOC), where governments, policymakers, fisheries stakeholders, and small-scale fishers committed to strengthening transparency in the fisheries sector.
The declaration seeks to move global discussions from policy commitments to practical action by encouraging countries to adopt stronger monitoring, reporting, and enforcement systems.
Illegal fishing is estimated to cause losses of about $11 billion across Africa, affecting government revenues, local fishing communities, and food security.
Push for fisheries transparency
The Mombasa Declaration formalises the commitment of more than 10 countries to implement fisheries transparency measures outlined in the Global Charter for Transparency in Fisheries.
The initiative, promoted by the Fisheries Transparency Coalition (FTC), seeks to improve access to information on fishing activities, ownership structures, licensing, and enforcement.
Supporters argue that greater transparency will make it harder for illegal operators to exploit weak regulatory systems and undermine legitimate fishing activities.
The declaration commits participating countries to incorporate practical transparency measures into national laws, policies, and enforcement frameworks.
Coastal communities at risk
Small-scale fishers and coastal communities remain among the groups most affected by illegal fishing activities.
Stakeholders warned that IUU fishing reduces fish stocks, threatens incomes, and weakens the marine economy that supports millions of people across Africa.
The practice also puts pressure on ocean ecosystems by disrupting sustainable fishing patterns and damaging marine biodiversity.
For communities that depend on fishing for food and livelihoods, declining fish populations could deepen economic hardship and increase vulnerability.
From commitments to enforcement
The declaration represents a shift toward coordinated government action, with participating countries expected to implement agreed measures and encourage more nations to join the initiative.
Stakeholders said stronger cooperation between coastal states, flag states, and international partners is necessary because illegal fishing often involves vessels operating across multiple jurisdictions.
They emphasised that reliable data, stronger institutions and collaboration among governments, fishing communities and conservation organisations must back enforcement.
The Mombasa Declaration comes amid growing global concern over the sustainability of ocean resources as countries balance economic development with environmental protection.
African governments are now being challenged to turn the commitments into measurable action by strengthening fisheries governance and protecting marine resources for future generations.
