By Adnan Adams Mohammed
In a decisive and unprecedented unified front against maritime crime, fifteen African coastal nations have officially signed and adopted the landmark Mombasa Declaration.
The historic accord aims to radically accelerate fisheries transparency and establish a fortified, collaborative defense against the devastating scourge of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing across the continent’s waters.
The declaration was finalized at the conclusion of a high-level regional conference co-hosted by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs of Kenya, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), and the Katiba Institute. The accord marks a critical turning point for a continent whose marine ecosystems and economic stability have long been plundered by illicit fishing fleets.
A United Africa Against a $11 Billion Scourge
For decades, African coastal states have fought isolated battles against IUU fishing a criminal enterprise that drains billions of dollars from national economies, decimates fish stocks, and threatens the livelihoods of millions of artisanal fishermen. The Mombasa Declaration fundamentally shifts the strategy from isolated national policing to a unified, transparent regional alliance.
Speaking on the monumental weight of the agreement, Hon. Salim Mvurya, EGH, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, emphasized that collective openness is Africa’s strongest weapon:
“The Mombasa Declaration is a testament to our collective resolve to safeguard our marine resources for present and future generations. By embracing transparency and regional cooperation, we are sending a clear message that illegal fishing will find no safe haven in our waters.”
The 15 signatory nations comprising Benin, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, and Sierra Leone have jointly committed to concrete, measurable actions. These include making fisheries management data publicly available, verifying the true ownership of industrial vessels, and standardizing regional enforcement mechanisms.
Out of the Shadows: The Power of Information
At the core of the declaration is the understanding that IUU fishing thrives in the shadows of bureaucratic secrecy and opaque corporate structures. By committing to the global FiTI Standard, the signatory nations are pledging to publish critical data regarding fishing agreements, vessel licenses, and catch allocations.
Sven Biermann, Executive Director of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), lauded the standard set by the entering nations, noting that transparency is the bedrock of sustainability:
“Transparency is not just about publishing data; it is about building trust, fostering accountability, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of fisheries. The commitment shown by these 15 nations today is a giant leap forward for ocean governance in Africa.”
By forcing industrial fleets to operate in the light, the declaration aims to eliminate “flags of convenience” and shell companies that allow illegal operators to evade penalties and exploit weak regulatory loops across national maritime borders.
Securing Food Security and Local Livelihoods
Beyond the macroeconomic benefits, the Mombasa Declaration is, at its heart, an initiative to protect vulnerable human populations. Coastal communities across Africa rely heavily on small-scale, artisanal fishing for both daily sustenance and basic income. When foreign industrial trawlers illegally encroach into protected coastal zones, local populations suffer immediate, catastrophic losses.
Prof. Yash Pal Ghai, a director at the Katiba Institute, highlighted that the agreement bridges environmental conservation with fundamental human rights and constitutional accountability:
“Fisheries are a public trust, and the public has a right to know how these resources are being managed. The Mombasa Declaration empowers communities, promotes social justice, and strengthens the constitutional principles of public participation and access to information.”
Turning Commitments Into Action
While the adoption of the declaration has been met with widespread international acclaim, delegates at the conference noted that the true test lies in implementation. The 15 nations must now integrate these transparency frameworks into their respective domestic legal systems and allocate the necessary resources for active data sharing.
Nevertheless, with more than a dozen nations pulling in the same direction, the Mombasa Declaration provides a powerful blueprint for how regional solidarity can turn the tide against maritime exploitation and secure a prosperous blue economy for the entire African continent.
