AU-IBAR and IGAD Drive Regional Response to IUU Fishing Threats
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to erode Africa’s blue economy, threatening food security, aquatic biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions. In Kenya alone, losses from IUU fishing are estimated at up to KSh 40–45 billion annually, reflecting not only lost revenue but also declining fish stocks, environmental degradation, and increased vulnerability among fishing communities.
This challenge is inherently transboundary. Weak and fragmented Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems, limited technical capacity, and uneven enforcement across countries allow illegal operators to exploit governance gaps. Across Africa, IUU fishing is estimated at 4.7 million tonnes annually, valued at approximately USD 10 billion, placing immense pressure on ecosystems and undermining the sustainability of aquatic resources that support over 200 million people.
To strengthen collective action, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), convened a Regional Expert Training Workshop in Mombasa under the theme: Strengthening Capacity for Regional MCS Systems for Effective Combat of IUU Fishing and Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity and the Environment in the IGAD Region.
This initiative is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented under the Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy Project, which aims to enhance the sustainable management of Africa’s aquatic ecosystems through strengthened governance, capacity development, and regional cooperation.
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The workshop brought together MCS experts and environmental personnel from IGAD Member States to enhance technical capacity, strengthen coordination, and promote harmonised regional enforcement systems. Discussions emphasised that no single country can combat IUU fishing alone. Effective response requires synchronised regional surveillance, enforcement of international instruments such as the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), adoption of technology-driven monitoring systems, and stronger institutional collaboration.
Through this initiative, AU-IBAR and IGAD are advancing a coordinated regional approach to protect aquatic biodiversity, secure fisheries-dependent livelihoods, and support the sustainable growth of Africa’s blue economy.
Safeguarding Africa’s fisheries goes beyond enforcement to protecting food systems, preserving biodiversity, and securing the continent's economic future.
Media Coverage of Event
1. https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/african-states-urged-to-stop-iuu-fishing/
2. https://youtu.be/NYUB8dkWrgQ?si=la-jZduFy_rg3l_l
3. https://youtu.be/Gmfe3eAIwMc?si=mODAqU8LlbKm3aJE
4. https://youtu.be/QR32YhJ7-20?si=InJdy4yQXroZ5Mw5
5. https://youtu.be/J25kTI7pK24?si=oyVnmWlfPMVHw2SI
6. https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/african-nations-urged-to-develop-effective-governance-for-ocean-resources/
8. https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/coast/2026-02-19-kenya-loses-sh45-billion-annually-to-illegal-fishing-regional-cooperation-urged
9. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ZzefjbTye/
10. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GyeXwJTPs/
11. https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPi6AwW2L/