West African nations seek illegal fishing solutions in regional meeting

CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Since March 18, around 50 participants have gathered in Abidjan for a four-day technical meeting on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa.

Delegates from ECOWAS member states, along with representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, are attending these discussions to explore solutions to this ongoing issue.

This is because West Africa is one of the most affected regions globally when it comes to illegal fishing, with official figures estimating annual losses of US$2 billion.

During the meeting, participants are working on a roadmap to align national regulations, improve information-sharing mechanisms, and enhance collaboration across the region.

They are also discussing ways to streamline financial and human resources to strengthen enforcement efforts and promote best practices.

Ivorian Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources, Sidi Tiémoko Touré, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, stating that the workshop aims to develop a framework for sustainable and integrated management of ocean resources.

The IUU outlook 

The financial impact of these illegal acts is significant, but IUU fishing also threatens fish species vital to food security and disrupts artisanal fishing, which employs over a million people in the region.

In Senegal alone, illegal fishing contributes to the overexploitation of key species like flat and round sardinella, leading to stock depletion and an estimated annual economic loss of US$238 million, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Since 1985, West African nations have relied on the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) to coordinate fisheries management, though illegal fishing remains a persistent challenge.

Fishing plays a crucial role in the economies of West African countries, with the region hosting some of the world’s richest fish stocks.

Annual fish production in West Africa, including both capture fisheries and aquaculture, averages around 3 million tonnes.

Between 2009 and 2016, fish production surged from 2.4 million to 3.6 million tonnes, but output has since declined.

Although aquaculture is expanding, it remains limited compared to capture fisheries, with Nigeria leading in production.