15 countries adopt Mombasa Declaration to tackle illegal fishing

The declaration, unveiled at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, calls on coastal and flag states to improve the collection and sharing of vessel information and expand access to fisheries data.

It supports the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which sets out 10 low-cost or no-cost policy measures governments can adopt to improve oversight, accountability and sustainability in fisheries management.

The declaration has been endorsed by Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France on behalf of its overseas territories, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Korea.

The signatories said they would begin implementing transparency reforms, including modernising vessel registries, publishing fishing authorisations and strengthening information-sharing to support enforcement.

Illegal fishing threatens coastal communities, small-scale fishers and economies dependent on marine resources by undermining livelihoods, food security and ocean ecosystems. Experts estimate IUU fishing costs the global economy up to $50 billion annually while contributing to declining fish stocks and enabling human rights abuses, including unsafe working conditions and forced labour.

Ghana's Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Emelia Arthur said fish was central to the country'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. 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,” Arthur said.

France's Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fishery, Catherine Chabaud, said greater transparency and cooperation were essential to tackling illegal fishing.

“France is proud to be among the first supporters of the Mombasa Declaration on Fisheries Transparency, through its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

This initiative is based on a simple conviction: we will not be able to effectively combat IUU fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation. The Declaration provides an important opportunity for governments to demonstrate their political commitment to improving fisheries governance. We hope that many more countries will join this initiative and implement the commitments it promotes, making transparency the norm in the fisheries sector,” Chabaud said.

The declaration was developed with support from the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency and its partners, including academics and practitioners working with governments to strengthen fisheries governance.

Maisie Pigeon, director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said sustainable ocean economies depended on stronger governance and better access to information.

"There is growing recognition that a productive and sustainable blue economy depends on strong ocean governance, effective monitoring, and accessible data. 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. We look forward to working with these countries and others to advance meaningful fisheries reforms," Pigeon said.

Beth Lowell, vice president at Oceana, said weak oversight and opaque supply chains had allowed illegal fishing and abuses to continue.

“For too long, fisheries have operated far from shore, with inadequate oversight and opaque supply chains. These fishing practices have depleted fish stocks, undermined coastal communities, and enabled illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and human rights abuses. Transparency is essential to protecting our oceans and the livelihoods of those that depend on them. The Mombasa Declaration signals that governments around the world are ready to act against illegal fishing, and to work together for a more transparent, equitable, and sustainable ocean for all,” Lowell said.

Steve Trent, chief executive and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, said transparency was critical to improving accountability.

“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,” Trent said.

Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch, said improved access to vessel data could help governments prevent illegal activity.

“For too long, illegal fishing has thrived in the dark. Today’s Mombasa Declaration is a turning point in changing that reality. When governments commit to transparency — sharing vessel identities, ownership or tracking data — they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide. Global Fishing Watch stands ready to equip these nations with the open data and analytical power to drive these transparency measures forward,” Long said.

Antha Williams, who leads the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said better fisheries data would help governments make stronger resource management decisions.

“The countries that have endorsed the Mombasa Declaration are sending a clear signal that transparency is essential to a healthy ocean and sustainable fisheries. By improving access to reliable data, governments can make better decisions to manage marine resources. This declaration reflects a shared commitment to greater transparency in global fisheries, and we look forward to supporting efforts to turn this vision into meaningful action for coastal communities and marine ecosystems,” Williams said.