Sixteen countries signed the Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency at the 11th Our Ocean Conference to combat illegal fishing.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing operates most effectively in darkness. Vessels change names, hide ownership through shell companies, and disappear from tracking systems precisely when scrutiny increases. The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency, adopted in Kenya on June 17, 2026, aims to close those shadows through concrete, achievable transparency reforms rather than costly enforcement infrastructure many nations cannot afford.
Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and South Korea endorsed the declaration, representing a remarkably diverse range of economies and geographies. This breadth signals that the declaration on fisheries transparency resonates globally rather than reflecting a single region’s priorities.
The declaration builds support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which outlines ten low-cost or no-cost policy principles governments can adopt in law and practice. Rather than demanding expensive new monitoring technology, the declaration focuses on information governments can already collect and share more effectively, such as vessel ownership records, licensing details, and fishing authorization data.
“In my country, our very existence depends on fish,” said Ghana’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur. “Sixty percent of our animal protein comes from fish, and ten percent of our population depends on the fisheries value chain for livelihood.” Ghana’s early endorsement reflects how the Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency connects directly to food security and national economic stability for coastal nations.
France’s Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fishery, Catherine Chabaud, emphasized international cooperation’s necessity. “We will not be able to effectively combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation,” she stated, noting that France’s participation through its Overseas Countries and Territories signals a broader commitment beyond mainland fisheries policy.
IUU fishing devastates coastal communities disproportionately dependent on marine resources. The practice depletes fish stocks, distorts markets, and frequently links to serious human rights abuses, including unsafe working conditions and forced labor aboard fishing vessels. Small-scale fishers, who typically operate transparently and sustainably, compete against illegal operations that ignore quotas, fish in protected areas, and avoid the costs of proper licensing.
The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency addresses how IUU fishing devastates coastal communities disproportionately dependent on marine resources, depleting fish stocks, distorting markets, and often being linked to human rights abuses, as small-scale fishers who operate transparently compete against illegal operations that ignore quotas and proper licensing. Photo by Jeffry Surianto on Pexels.
Limited transparency in vessel ownership, tracking, and supply chains allows these practices to persist largely unchecked. The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency addresses this gap through commitments to modernize vessel registries, publish fishing authorizations publicly, and strengthen information-sharing supporting enforcement across fisheries sectors.
Beth Lowell, Vice President at Oceana, described the stakes plainly: “For too long, fisheries have operated far from shore, with inadequate oversight and opaque supply chains. These fishing practices have depleted fish stocks, undermined coastal communities, and enabled illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and human rights abuses.”
Global Fishing Watch CEO Tony Long framed the declaration as a turning point. “For too long, illegal fishing has thrived in the dark. Today’s Mombasa Declaration is a turning point in changing that reality. When governments commit to transparency, such as sharing vessel identities, ownership, or tracking data, they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide.”
The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency emerged through collaboration with the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, a global network of more than fifty civil society organizations working with governments to advance accountability in fisheries governance. The coalition’s academics and practitioners helped shape practical reforms that nations across vastly different economic circumstances could realistically implement.
Maisie Pigeon, director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, highlighted the diversity among signatory nations. “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.” This diversity matters because IUU fishing exploits regulatory gaps wherever they exist, requiring a coordinated response rather than isolated national efforts.
Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, connected transparency directly to justice. “Transparency is how we expose abuses, support coastal communities, and rebuild trust that fisheries can be managed sustainably and fairly,” he stated, applauding signatory nations while urging broader international participation.
The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency launches a campaign inviting additional nations to join before the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027. This timeline builds momentum to expand the coalition while allowing initial signatories to demonstrate implementation progress, which might encourage hesitant governments to follow suit.
Antha Williams, who leads the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasized the declaration’s broader significance for ocean health. “By improving access to reliable data, governments can make better decisions to manage marine resources,” she noted, positioning transparency as foundational infrastructure for sustainable fisheries management rather than merely an anti-crime measure.
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Signatory countries now begin translating declaration commitments into concrete action. Modernizing vessel registries requires technical capacity building in some nations, though the 10 principles were specifically designed as achievable without massive new investment. Publishing fishing authorizations demands political will to make previously opaque licensing processes publicly accessible.
The Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency represents the accumulated pressure from years of documented harm caused by IUU fishing and presents practical policy solutions ready for implementation. With 16 founding nations spanning six continents already committed, the declaration provides a template other coastal and flag states can adopt, potentially transforming how the world monitors and protects the ocean resources billions of people depend on for food, livelihoods, and cultural identity.
