Mombasa: African Union member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, and leading research and conservation institutions are calling for sustainable use of marine resources amid a surge in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU). The African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) director, Dr. Huyam Salih, emphasized that safeguarding Africa's rivers, lakes, wetlands, and marine ecosystems is not merely an environmental concern but a critical economic and social requirement for sustainable development.

According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Salih highlighted overfishing and illegal fishing practices as major challenges, compounded by the lack of capacity in various countries to combat these issues effectively. During the Fourth Project Technical Committee meeting organized by AU-IBAR in Mombasa, Dr. Salih stated, "The aquatic biodiversity is a strategic pillar for Africa's food security, climate resilience, employment creation, and economic transformation."

Dr. Salih noted that IUU fishing operations take advantage of weak Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems and governance gaps, which are prevalent in many developing coastal nations due to insufficient resources and capacity. "Without effective surveillance, it is extremely difficult to identify vessels, determine their authorisation status, and enforce regulations. This means illegal fishing vessels can operate with minimal risk of being caught or penalised," she added.

Mahongah Joseph, the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, stated that illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and climate change are significant obstacles to the development of the blue economy across Africa, not just in Kenya. He announced that the government has finalized the blue economy strategy, which will soon be launched to tackle the overexploitation of marine resources, address pollution in the Indian Ocean, and mitigate climate change impacts.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), represented by Ms. Stella Mbabazi, stressed the importance of regional integration for the sustainable management of shared aquatic ecosystems, particularly transboundary lakes, rivers, and marine systems that support millions of livelihoods across Eastern and Southern Africa. She emphasized the need for harmonized policies, coordinated enforcement mechanisms, and shared scientific knowledge among Member States.

AU-IBAR fishing management and blue economy expert Mohamed Seisay mentioned that AU-IBAR has been collaborating with various countries in the project's first phase to enhance institutional capacity to protect ocean resources, combat illegal fishing, and promote gender steering. The second phase, starting next year, will address issues identified in the first phase, including habitat encroachment, which poses a threat to marine resources.