Dame
Mboup
With Africa’s marine lifelines under threat, technology and transparency offer a new path to a sustainable fisheries future
The 5,500 kilometer coastline of West Africa is home to some of the most diverse fisheries in the world and boasts a rich maritime tradition that underpins the lives and livelihoods of many in the region. Indeed, across the entire African continent, fish provide not only a key source of protein but remain a backbone of economic stability and cultural identity. The World Bank notes that fisheries and aquaculture directly contribute US$24 billion to the African economy and employ some 12 million people. Moreover, demand for fish is expected to increase by 30 percent by 2030 due to Africa’s growing population and per capita income, indicating the resource’s central role in African life.
But as Africa’s coastal nations grapple with the twin pressures of climate change and dwindling marine resources, the stakes for the continent’s fisheries have never been higher. Inadequate monitoring and enforcement, for instance, have led to rampant illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with nearly 40 percent of fish caught illegally, resulting in substantial economic losses and environmental degradation.
“Africa’s fishing sector faces chronic challenges such as weak management systems, limited oversight and a severe lack of investment in sustainable fisheries governance,” warns Dame Mboup, Global Fishing Watch’s manager for Africa. “The result is a growing strain on both communities and marine ecosystems.”
And yet, amid these challenges, Mboup, together with Global Fishing Watch’s Africa team, is fostering a new wave of ocean stewardship — one that pairs technology with transparency to support an African transition to more sustainable fisheries management.
“With targeted investment, regional cooperation and the adoption of technologies that bring greater transparency to ocean governance, African countries have a real opportunity to protect their waters while unlocking long-term economic, social and environmental gains,” he continues.
“That is exactly where Global Fishing Watch fits in — by empowering African countries to leverage our open-source technology and transform their ocean future into a sustainable one.”
As heads of state, policy-makers and civil society actors prepare to converge in Nice, France for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), we spoke with Dame Mboup to learn more about Africa’s ongoing fight against IUU fishing and how technology and transparency can help African governments chart a path toward a more resilient and equitable blue economy.
Global Fishing Watch has been supporting African governments’ work on fisheries for years now. How has this developed and what have been your proudest moments?
Over the past five years, Global Fishing Watch has deepened its engagement across Africa, shifting from a country-specific focus to partnering with regional bodies that foster cross-border collaboration.
Today, Global Fishing Watch is regarded as a trusted partner and valued ally by many nations in the region. We’re proud to see this recognition reflected in high-level fora such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Committee on Fisheries, where African officials have highlighted their partnerships with Global Fishing Watch. We are also seeing growing interest in our work from authorities across the continent, with several countries already formally expressing a desire to join forces and partner.
What structural and political factors make the continent’s waters particularly vulnerable to IUU activity, and what are the long-term consequences if this trend persists?
IUU fishing poses a serious threat across Africa’s coastal waters, undermining both marine ecosystems and national economies. The roots of the crisis are complex: chronic budget shortfalls leave many governments unable to invest adequately in fisheries protection, while political interests too often sideline long-term resource management.
That said, a course correction is necessary. Without greater transparency, stronger enforcement and political will, Africa’s fisheries will continue to suffer under the weight of inaction. This is where Global Fishing Watch can step in. Our work aims to support governments by providing free, open-access data and satellite technology that enable authorities to monitor their waters more effectively and crack down on illicit activity.
There are many small-scale fisheries across Africa. What are the challenges in ensuring international governance changes can support local people who rely on fishing for their livelihoods?
Small-scale fisheries are essential to food security, local economies and cultural identity across all of Africa. Yet they face mounting challenges — from weak regulation and lack of investment to growing pressure on marine ecosystems. While the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its member states have taken steps to address the issue, more must be done to ensure policies reflect the realities and needs of coastal fishing communities across the continent.
But the challenges do not stop there. Artisanal fishing communities also contend with threats from industrial fleets, whose large vessels can destroy gear, degrade fishing grounds and endanger lives through collisions and other at-sea incidents.
And, finally, African small-scale fishers face numerous technical and financial barriers. For example, many small boats lack basic geolocation equipment — a critical safety and monitoring tool — simply because it’s unaffordable. Without significant investment, these communities risk remaining overlooked and under-protected.
African governments have introduced various policies and partnerships aimed at improving fisheries governance and ocean sustainability. In your view, which efforts have shown the most promise — and where are countries still falling short?
African governments have launched several beneficial initiatives, often in partnership with regional bodies such as the West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) and the Gulf of Guinea Regional Fisheries Commission (COREP). These efforts have yielded promising results in favor of improved fisheries governance and ocean sustainability.
Another such example is the West African Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPAO), which serves as a vital regional alliance, uniting governments, civil society organizations and local communities to protect ecologically critical ocean spaces. By coordinating the management of marine protected areas across national borders, RAMPAO plays a key role in safeguarding biodiversity hotspots essential for the reproduction of numerous marine species. Its community-based approach not only strengthens conservation efforts on the ground but also ensures that those who depend most on ocean resources have a voice in their preservation.
Other impactful initiatives include the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), the African Charter on Maritime Fisheries and regional maritime surveillance programs like the Programme for Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa (PESCAO).
However, overall progress is hindered by persistent challenges, including limited technical and human resources, weak regional coordination, insufficient inclusion of artisanal fishers in decision-making and a gap between policy and enforcement. Moreover, while governments publicly commit to sustainable and participatory resource management, implementation often falls short, allowing harmful practices to persist and undermining long-term ocean health.
The African Union’s Blue Economy strategy and global frameworks like the 30x30 ocean target aim to foster sustainable ocean management. What would it take for African nations to meaningfully align with these ambitions by 2030, particularly given competing development priorities?
Aligning African countries with the African Union’s blue economy strategy and global frameworks such as 30×30 is absolutely possible, but hinges on a few critical conditions. First, we need to strengthen ocean governance by having clearer legal frameworks, better enforcement and more transparency. At the same time, the blue economy can’t sit on the margins of national development plans; it needs to be seen as central to economic growth, job creation and food security. That means integrating it into broader policy and investment strategies.
We also have to invest in people. Strengthening local capacity and ensuring that coastal and fishing communities are not only included but empowered in the process is critical. And finally, regional cooperation has to improve. Marine ecosystems don’t respect borders, so we need more coordination between countries sharing the same resources.
If we’re serious about hitting the 30×30 target by 2030, we must rethink the blue economy as a key lever for development. That will require real political will, smarter policies and tools that protect both marine ecosystems and the rights of the people who depend on them.
Looking ahead, what concrete steps could African governments — and their international partners — take to ensure the continent’s fisheries are not only protected, but also resilient and economically beneficial for future generations?
To ensure that African fisheries are protected, resilient and economically beneficial in the long term, African governments and their international partners will need to adopt an integrated approach based on sustainability, equity and inclusive governance. This starts with intensifying the fight against IUU fishing. But enforcement alone isn’t enough. Communities must also be part of the solution through strengthened participatory and inclusive fisheries management. When fishers, local leaders, and coastal residents are included in managing resources, there’s a greater sense of ownership—and with that, better outcomes.
We also need to broaden the conversation beyond marine fishing. Aquaculture, for example, holds real promise as a sustainable alternative, especially for artisanal fishers who are on the front lines of change. At the same time, we have to think regionally. Fish don’t stop at borders, and mistakes in one country can ripple across an entire coastline. That’s why harmonizing fishing policies and investing in shared stock assessments is so important. Coastal nations need the tools and science to manage fisheries based on real data — otherwise, we’re navigating blind.