By Leocadia Bongben
On June 17, Cameroon, along with fifteen other countries from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, committing to advancing global fisheries transparency and strengthening efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“The ocean is our planet’s life support system, home to 80% of all life on Earth, a provider of food and livelihoods for billions, and a stabilising force for the global climate. Yet it faces escalating threats from warming seas, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU), pollution, and biodiversity loss. Holding under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future”, the conference positions Africa and the Western Indian Ocean at the centre of global conversations about sustainability, resilience, innovation, and inclusive economic growth,” the conference organiser stated.
Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, France (on behalf of its overseas territories), The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Somalia, and South Korea endorsed the Mombasa Declaration, uniting nations committed to strengthening ocean governance and leading global action on fisheries transparency. Once adopted, signatory countries will begin putting the Declaration into action. The signing launches a campaign for other nations to join the effort in advance of the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027.
The conference also brings together countries dedicated to advancing global action on fisheries transparency and bolstering ocean governance. Following adoption, signatory nations will start implementing the Declaration. Cameroon signed the Global Transparency for Fisheries Charter last year and has now joined the Mombasa Declaration, showing political will, and there is a need for implementation to follow.
In anticipation of the upcoming Our Ocean Conference in 2027, the signing is the beginning of a campaign encouraging additional countries to join the endeavour.
Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, said: “Transparency is how we expose abuses, support coastal communities, and rebuild trust that fisheries can be managed sustainably and fairly. I applaud the leadership of every state endorsing the Mombasa Declaration today and urge others to follow.”
IUU fishing puts livelihoods, food security, and the long-term viability of ocean ecosystems at risk. It disproportionately affects coastal communities, small-scale fishermen, and economies that rely on marine species. In response to these issues, the Mombasa Declaration advances the Global Charter’s practical transparency measures to strengthen accountability, facilitate more equitable and sustainable management of marine resources, and improve access to information on vessel ownership, licensing, and fishing activity.
“In my country, our very existence depends on fish. Sixty per cent of our animal protein comes from fish, and ten per cent of our population depends on the fisheries’ value chain for livelihood. Fisheries are a matter of culture and national security for us. 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.” Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ghana, said.
The picture above shows the reaction of the representative of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industry from the Environmental Justice Foundation.