Mombasa Declaration: 15 African Nations Unite to Combat Illegal Fishing
Fifteen African countries have signed the Mombasa Declaration, a regional commitment aimed at curbing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across the continent’s waters. The agreement, reached in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, brings together governments seeking to strengthen cooperation against a practice widely recognised as one of the most damaging threats to both marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
A Growing Maritime Crisis
Illegal fishing has become a global concern with a particularly acute impact on Africa, where coastal economies rely heavily on fish stocks for food security and livelihoods. According to widely cited estimates, approximately one in every five fish consumed worldwide is connected to illegal fishing operations. The practice not only depletes marine resources but is frequently linked to serious human rights violations at sea, including forced labour, human trafficking and physical abuse of crew members.
The Human Cost of IUU Fishing
Beyond its environmental footprint, IUU fishing has drawn increasing attention because of its ties to modern slavery. Reports suggest that more than 120,000 fishers worldwide are currently trapped in exploitative conditions aboard vessels operating outside the bounds of legitimate regulation. These workers, often recruited under deceptive terms, can spend years at sea with little recourse to legal protection. The Mombasa Declaration reflects growing recognition that combating illegal fishing requires addressing the labour abuses that frequently accompany it.
Pushing for Transparency
A central pillar of the declaration is the call for greater transparency within the global fishing industry. Signatory states are expected to enhance monitoring, traceability and enforcement measures, while also committing to share information across borders. Advocates have long argued that opaque supply chains allow illegally caught fish to enter international markets, undermining both conservation efforts and the rights of legitimate fishers. By aligning around common standards, the 15 nations aim to close the loopholes that have enabled such practices to flourish.
Regional Cooperation and the Road Ahead
The Mombasa Declaration signals a renewed push for regional coordination on maritime governance, an area where fragmented national responses have often struggled to keep pace with transnational fishing operations. Observers note that the agreement’s success will depend on the willingness of signatory states to translate commitments into enforceable policy, including stronger port-state controls, vessel registration reforms and cooperation with international monitoring bodies. For coastal communities across Africa, the outcome could have a direct bearing on the sustainability of fish stocks and the protection of those who work at sea.
The declaration marks one of the broadest African-led efforts to date to confront illegal fishing as both an environmental and a human rights challenge, underscoring the interconnected nature of the two issues.
Source: AllAfrica — read the original report.
