Nigeria will serve as the pilot country for the implementation of a Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels in West Africa, a move aimed at combating illegal fishing and enhancing cooperative marine governance across the Gulf of Guinea.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who also chairs the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), during a high-level engagement with the organisation’s Secretary-General and secretariat staff in Abuja.
Strengthening Fisheries Governance
Oyetola said Nigeria’s pilot role reflects the country’s commitment to translate regional leadership into practical actions against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing while promoting sustainable fisheries management in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels aims to:
- Establish a verified and harmonised database of industrial fishing vessels operating in FCWC member states’ maritime zones
- Cover both domestic and foreign fleets
- Enhance transparency, accountability, and cross-border cooperation
- Serve as a governance tool for sustainable fisheries management
The initiative builds on a regional roadmap endorsed by FCWC member states and reaffirmed under the Monrovia Declaration, outlining steps for a shared vessel register to protect fish stocks and coastal livelihoods.
Nigeria’s Pilot Role
Nigeria’s pilot programme will:
- Test the system’s feasibility
- Identify operational gaps
- Generate lessons for regional deployment
- Support other member states during full implementation
Oyetola emphasised that collective action is crucial to safeguarding shared fish stocks and promoting sustainable use of ocean resources.
“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,” he said.
Complementary Regional Efforts
The minister highlighted ongoing regional initiatives including:
- Joint patrols and enforcement operations under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme, in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency
- Review of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action against illegal fishing following the transfer of fisheries oversight to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy
Oyetola also called for deeper institutional collaboration with FCWC, including:
- High-level Nigerian delegations to the organisation’s secretariat and regional monitoring centre
- Harmonisation of food safety and fisheries regulatory standards among member states to enhance intra-regional trade and consumer protection
Regional Recognition of Nigeria’s Leadership
The FCWC Secretary-General, Antoine Gaston Djihinto, praised Nigeria for its leadership in tackling illegal fishing and supporting increased fish production. He also lauded Nigeria for hosting an outstanding FCWC Conference in Lagos in November 2025.
The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), established in 2007, is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes regional cooperation among its six member states:
- Benin
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Togo
Headquartered in Tema, the organisation focuses on:
- Harmonising fisheries legislation
- Strengthening monitoring and surveillance
- Promoting a sustainable blue economy to support regional livelihoods
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria to pilot the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels
- Initiative targets illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
- Aims to create a verified, harmonised vessel database for FCWC member states
- Supports sustainable fisheries management, transparency, and accountability
- Reinforces Nigeria’s leadership role in West African marine governance
This pilot project marks a major step forward for transparent and accountable fisheries governance in West Africa, positioning Nigeria as a model for regional collaboration in marine resource management.
