Nigeria pilots regional vessel register to combat illegal fishing
Nigeria has stepped forward to lead a major regional effort to curb illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, agreeing to pilot the long-awaited Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels
Nigeria has stepped forward to lead a major regional effort to curb illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, agreeing to pilot the long-awaited Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels for West Africa.
The move positions Africa’s largest economy at the centre of a transparency-driven push to strengthen fisheries governance and protect marine resources across the sub-region.
The decision was announced in Abuja by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during a high-level meeting with the FCWC Secretary-General and officials of the organisation’s secretariat.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s willingness to host the pilot phase reflects a deliberate shift from declarations to action in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continues to drain billions of dollars from West African economies annually.
“Nigeria’s decision to serve as the pilot country demonstrates our resolve to translate regional leadership into measurable outcomes for sustainable fisheries management,” Oyetola said.
At the core of the initiative is the creation of a verified regional database of industrial fishing vessels authorised to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC member states. The register will cover both national and foreign fleets and is designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and information-sharing among coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The project is envisaged as a formalised and validated regional database containing comprehensive and reliable information on fishing vessels authorised to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC Member States. This initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening transparency, accountability, and cooperation in fisheries governance across our shared waters,” the minister said.
The vessel register builds on an agreed regional roadmap and commitments contained in the Monrovia Declaration, under which FCWC member states endorsed the register as a shared governance tool to combat IUU fishing across West and Central Africa.
Oyetola explained that the pilot phase would allow Nigeria and the FCWC to test the feasibility of the system, identify operational gaps, and generate lessons for a wider regional rollout. He pledged that Nigeria would share its experience with other member states as implementation expands.
He stressed that no single country could effectively protect shared fish stocks alone, noting that collective action and harmonised systems were essential to safeguarding fisheries resources and coastal livelihoods.
Beyond the vessel register, the minister pointed to complementary regional initiatives already underway, including joint patrols and enforcement operations under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme. The programme is being implemented by the FCWC in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency to deter illegal fishing and improve compliance at sea.
He also disclosed that the country’s draft National Plan of Action on IUU fishing is being reviewed and updated following the transfer of fisheries oversight to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, signalling a renewed policy focus on curbing illicit activities in Nigerian waters.
As part of deeper institutional engagement, Oyetola proposed a high-level Nigerian mission to the FCWC secretariat and its regional monitoring centre, alongside closer collaboration on harmonising food safety and fisheries regulatory standards to support intra-regional trade and consumer protection.
Reaffirming his priorities as Chairman of the FCWC Conference of Ministers, Oyetola said his tenure would emphasise practical outcomes, stronger institutions, and the sustainable use of ocean resources. He described the pilot vessel register as a defining step towards more transparent and accountable fisheries governance in West Africa.
Earlier in the meeting, FCWC Secretary-General Antoine Gaston Djihinto applauded Nigeria’s leadership on fisheries governance, commending the minister’s commitment to tackling IUU fishing and boosting fish production. He also thanked the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for hosting what he described as an “outstanding and highly commendable” FCWC Conference in Lagos in November 2025.
Established in 2007, the FCWC is an intergovernmental organisation comprising Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. Headquartered in Tema, Ghana, the body promotes regional cooperation in fisheries management, harmonisation of fisheries legislation, enhanced monitoring and surveillance, and the development of a sustainable blue economy across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
