Mombasa Declaration Sets Global Course for Fisheries Transparency

On 16 June 2026, at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, sixteen governments adopted the Mombasa Declaration, pledging to improve fisheries transparency and curb IUU fishing.

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IUU fishing costs up to $50 billion annually, threatens food security and fuels human-rights abuses. In Ghana, fish provide 60 % of animal protein and support 10 % of the population’s livelihoods. The Declaration implements the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a ten-point, low-cost framework calling for public vessel data, licensing and authorisation disclosure.

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The inaugural signatories—Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France (overseas territories), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Korea—were represented by Ghana’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Emelia Arthur and France’s Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fishery Catherine Chabaud. Ghana’s minister framed fisheries as “a matter of culture and national security.” France emphasized that “effective combat of IUU fishing” requires transparency and cooperation. The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency noted the signatories represent a “diverse range of economies and geographies,” while Oceana warned that opaque supply chains have “depleted fish stocks, undermined coastal communities, and enabled human-rights abuses,” positioning transparency as essential.

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• “Transparency is how we expose abuses, support coastal communities, and rebuild trust that fisheries can be managed sustainably and fairly. I applaud the leadership of every state endorsing the Mombasa Declaration today, and urge others to follow.” — Steve Trent, CEO and Founder, Environmental Justice Foundation

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• “When governments commit to transparency — sharing vessel identities, ownership or tracking data — they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide.” — Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing Watch

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• “There is growing recognition that a productive and sustainable blue economy depends on strong ocean governance, effective monitoring, and accessible data. The countries signing the Mombasa Declaration today represent a diverse range of economies and geographies, demonstrating that momentum for transparency at sea is truly global. We look forward to working with these countries and others to advance meaningful fisheries reforms.” — Maisie Pigeon, Director, Coalition for Fisheries Transparency

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• “These fishing practices have depleted fish stocks, undermined coastal communities, and enabled illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and human rights abuses.” — Beth Lowell, Vice President, Oceana

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Greater transparency will enable authorities to identify illegal vessels, reduce market distortions, protect marine ecosystems and safeguard the protein and income of millions who rely on fish.

Kenya and U.S. Unveil Tough New Visa Restrictions on Illegal Fishing Networks

The $50 billion loss figure is based on expert modeling and lacks precise regional breakdowns, a gap the Declaration aims to close through better data.

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The signing launches a campaign to enlist additional nations before the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027. Signatories will begin applying the Charter’s ten principles and report progress toward a more transparent, sustainable global fisheries sector.

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