Harnessing Knowledge for Inclusive Ocean Governance: AU-IBAR’s Voice at the Decade of the Ocean Conference

Venue: Fogo Island, Cabo Verde | Date: October 10–11, 2025

As a component of Cabo Verde’s contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the 4th Conference from the Presidency of the Republic on the Decade of the Ocean, which was held in Fogo Island, Cabo Verde, was themed "Uniting Knowledge, Protecting the Seas: Ocean Science for All." This conference, under the patronage of H.E. José Maria Neves, President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, offered an interdisciplinary platform for scientists, policymakers, development institutions, and civil society to discuss ocean governance, marine science, innovation, and the socio-economic transformation of coastal communities. Pre-conference activities were conducted in the Fogo and Brava Islands from October 2–11, 2025, and concluded with two days of high-level dialogues at Casas do Sol in São Filipe.

The 2025 edition expands upon the "Declaration of Sal" by integrating science, policy, and community engagement to enhance the sustainable use and protection of ocean resources. It underscores the importance of transparency, participation, innovation, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of the objectives of the Decade of the Ocean. Panel sessions will investigate critical issues, including equitable blue economy models for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), ocean data access, marine protected areas, and open science.

In this context, AU-IBAR participated in Panel III, "Coastal Futures: Responsible and Inclusive Governance for Sustainable Marine Fisheries," in collaboration with the Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM), the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), and the Confédération Africaine des Organisations de Pêche Artisanale (CAOPA). Mrs Hellen Guebama and Mr Delvis Fortes represented AU-IBAR, and discussed Africa's experience in developing and implementing inclusive and transparent governance frameworks under the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS).

The engagement of AU-IBAR underscores its critical role in promoting continental coherence in fisheries governance, enhancing monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) systems to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and promoting data-driven decision-making through the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database (AfaData). AU-IBAR also emphasised the results of its coordination mechanisms, including the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM), the African Platform for Regional Institutions in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Systems (APRIFAAS), and regional aquaculture networks, which foster collaboration, policy alignment, and capacity building among AU Member States.

Additionally, AU-IBAR's participation is a testament to the importance of youth participation, gender equality, and inclusive governance in pursuing sustainable and resilient coastal futures. The presentation will explain how Africa's Blue Economy vision aligns with the global Decade of the Ocean, combining science, traditional knowledge, and innovation to ensure equitable management of marine resources. 

By participating in this high-level forum, AU-IBAR reinforces its continental mandate to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development, strengthen Africa's collective voice in regional and global marine governance, and bridge policy, knowledge, and community action towards a sustainable ocean future. The event is a beacon of knowledge-based action and collaboration, uniting science, governance, and communities in the shared mission to preserve the oceans that sustain humanity.