The African Union Commission and the World Wide Fund for Nature Collaborate on Regional Policy Guidelines to curb Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) in Africa and Enhance Transparency in African Fisheries

Posted on July, 05 2023

Consultative workshop to bring together key stakeholders to address the sustainability and transparency challenges associated with IUUF and validate regional policy guidelines developed to combat IUUF

Mombasa, Kenya - July 5, 2023 - The African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will this week convene a consultative workshop aimed at validating draft Regional Policy Guidelines to curb Illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in Africa. The workshop which will take place on the 5th-6th July is expected to facilitate meaningful and constructive dialogue to strengthen Africa’s response to IUUF, identify needs, and develop a roadmap for implementation of the Policy Guidelines. The guidelines were developed following a comprehensive gap analysis by the AUC and WWF on IUUF in Africa, and are expected to serve as a framework to combat IUUF and promote transparency within the African fisheries sector. 

 
Speaking at the opening of the workshop Director, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission,Harsen Nyambe,  said that the draft Policy Guidelines will provide guidance for AU member states to develop, review, and implement anti-IUUF policies, ensuring that fish and fishery products from Africa are not associated with IUUF activities. He also added that the guidelines which also emphasize the importance of transparency and full traceability, will require robust political commitment, strong institutions, and legal frameworks to effectively address IUU fishing.
 
IUUF continues to be a pressing issue and poses a serious threat to Africa’s pursuit of a Sustainable Blue Economy which holds immense potential. Presently, Africa incurs an estimated annual revenue loss of approximately $11.2 billion due to IUUF. Despite the existence of different regional commitments, the capacity of African countries to address this threat has been limited. Most countries are not able to prevent overfishing and maintain healthy fish stocks, leading to food insecurity and threatening already fragile marine ecosystems. Establishing a robust framework for Africa is critical to counteract the escalation of IUUF thereby safeguarding against this threat and upholding the pursuit of sustainable fisheries. .
 
Also speaking at the opening of the workshop, Chief Executive Officer of WWF Kenya Mohammed Awer said “Over 200 million people in Africa depend on fish for their primary source of protein, and over 10 million rely on fisheries for their livelihoods. Our fisheries sector contributes significantly to our economies, with annual marine fisheries exports valued at $2.7 billion. However, IUUF  threatens this backbone of food security and economic prosperity. Therefore, combating IUUF is not just a matter of environmental stewardship but of economic necessity and social responsibility. We cannot do this without effective governance and policy harmonization”. But Mr. Awer has this word of caution “Like all other trade in illegal wildlife products, IUUF has political security implications and where the profits from these illegal trades have not fed corruption and weakened public institutions, they have financed non-state armed groups.”
 
Togo Minister of Maritime Economy,Fisheries and Coastal Protection Kokou Edem Tengue urged AU member States' to adhere to international legal instruments aimed at combating IUU fishing, for those who are not yet party to them. He also called for the revision and strengthening of our legal frameworks considering the links between IUU fishing and other illicit maritime activities such as human trafficking, pollution, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and smuggling
 
 
Expected outcomes of the workshop include:

  1. Validation of the regional policy guidelines by stakeholders and experts.
  2. Establishment of a clear roadmap for the political process leading to the endorsement of the Regional Policy Guidelines.
  3. Support from the African Union and its 55 member states in operationalizing the policy guidelines and collectively harmonizing approaches to combat IUU fishing in Africa.

*ENDS*

 Notes to editors
 For more information or for a press interview contact:
 Mr Molalet Tsedeke| Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org ; WhatsApp: +251-911-630-631 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
Valentine Njoroge | Senior Specialist, Communications, Africa | WWF International | E-mail: vnjoroge@wwfint.org or email africafocus@wwfint.org
 
 
About WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit africa.panda.org for the latest news and media resources and follow us on Twitter @WWF_Africa .Contact africafocus@wwfint.orgfor more information or interviews.