Ghana has joined 15 other countries in adopting the Mombasa Declaration, a global initiative aimed at improving fisheries transparency and intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a practice estimated to cost the global economy up to US$50 billion annually.
The declaration was adopted on June 17, 2026, during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, bringing together governments from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific committed to strengthening ocean governance and promoting sustainable fisheries management.
IUU fishing is widely regarded as one of the biggest threats to marine resources, undermining coastal livelihoods, distorting seafood markets, weakening fisheries governance and depriving legitimate fishers, particularly in developing countries of income and access to marine resources.
The Mombasa Declaration calls on coastal and flag states to improve the collection, publication and sharing of fisheries data, particularly information relating to fishing vessels, ownership, licensing and fishing activities.
It also reinforces support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which outlines 10 practical, low-cost policy measures that governments can adopt to improve accountability and transparency across the fisheries sector.
Other signatories include Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, France (on behalf of its overseas territories), Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Somalia and South Korea.
Speaking at the adoption ceremony, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, described fisheries as central to Ghana’s economy, food security and national development.
She said fish accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s animal protein consumption, while approximately 10 percent of the population depends on the fisheries value chain for employment and livelihoods.
“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 governments to work together in promoting transparency in the fisheries sector,” she said.
The declaration commits participating countries to modernising vessel registries, publishing fishing authorisations and strengthening information-sharing among enforcement agencies to improve monitoring, compliance and accountability.
The initiative was developed with support from the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency and its partners, including researchers and fisheries governance experts working to improve transparency across global fishing industries.
Director of the Coalition, Maisie Pigeon, said growing international support for the declaration reflects increasing recognition that sustainable blue economy development depends on stronger ocean governance, effective monitoring systems and improved access to fisheries data.
Meanwhile, Steve Trent, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Justice Foundation, warned that illegal fishing is frequently linked to forced labour, unsafe working conditions and other human rights abuses.
He said limited transparency surrounding vessel ownership, fishing activities and seafood supply chains allows such practices to continue, underscoring the need for greater accountability and access to reliable fisheries information.
The adoption of the Mombasa Declaration is expected to strengthen international cooperation against illegal fishing while supporting sustainable fisheries management, protecting marine biodiversity and improving livelihoods for coastal communities.
