Ghana backs global push against illegal fishing with Mombasa Declaration

Fifteen countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific have adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, committing to strengthen fisheries transparency and intensify efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The declaration, endorsed by Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France (on behalf of its overseas territories), The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Korea, seeks to improve access to fisheries data and promote greater transparency in vessel ownership, licensing and fishing activities.

The initiative builds momentum for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which outlines 10 low-cost or no-cost policy principles that governments can adopt to improve fisheries governance and accountability.

Ghana eyes $10m in funding as Africa's first Blue Food Innovation Hub takes off

The declaration is expected to support stronger ocean governance by encouraging countries to modernise vessel registries, publish fishing authorisations and enhance information-sharing to improve enforcement and accountability across fisheries sectors.

Speaking at the conference in Mombasa, Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, underscored the importance of fisheries to Ghana’s economy and food security.

“In my country, our very existence depends on fish. Sixty percent of our animal protein comes from fish, and ten percent of our population depends on the fisheries value chain for livelihood. Fisheries are a matter of culture and national security for us,” she said.

“I’m happy that Ghana is among the first countries to sign the Mombasa Declaration because it provides a platform for all of us, the different governments, to come together and declare on an international platform that we are working together, fighting together for transparency in the fisheries sector.”

France’s Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fishery, Catherine Chabaud, said greater transparency and international cooperation were essential in the fight against illegal fishing.

“France is proud to be among the first supporters of the Mombasa Declaration on Fisheries Transparency through its Overseas Countries and Territories. This initiative is based on a simple conviction: we will not be able to effectively combat IUU fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation,” she stated.

According to experts, IUU fishing costs the global economy up to $50 billion annually, undermining livelihoods, threatening food security and contributing to the depletion of fish stocks. The practice has also been linked to serious human rights abuses, including forced labour and unsafe working conditions.

Director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, Maisie Pigeon, said the declaration demonstrates growing global support for transparency in fisheries governance.

“The countries signing the Mombasa Declaration today represent a diverse range of economies and geographies, demonstrating that momentum for transparency at sea is truly global,” she said.

The declaration was developed with support from the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency and its partners, who are working with governments to advance transparency, accountability and sustainable management of marine resources worldwide.