Fisheries Transparency

Sixteen Countries Adopt Mombasa Declaration to Advance Fisheries Transparency and Combat Illegal Fishing

Mombasa, Kenya – 17 June, 2026 – Sixteen national governments from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific today adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, committing to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Mombasa Declaration is a call to action for coastal and flag States on fisheries transparency, with a particular focus on better collection and dissemination of vessel information and allowing for better access to fisheries data. It builds support and momentum for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which outlines 10 low-cost or no-cost policy principles that governments can adopt globally, in law and in practice.

Endorsed at Our Ocean by a diverse coalition of countries – including Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, France (on behalf of its overseas territories), Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Somalia, and South Korea – the Mombasa Declaration unites nations committed to strengthening ocean governance and leading global action on fisheries transparency. Once adopted, signatory countries will begin putting the Declaration into action. The signing launches a campaign for other nations to join the effort in advance of the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027.

Coastal communities, small-scale fishers, and economies that depend on marine wildlife bear the brunt of IUU fishing, which threatens livelihoods, food security, and the long-term health of ocean ecosystems. The Mombasa Declaration responds to these challenges by advancing practical transparency measures, outlined in the Global Charter, to improve access to information on vessel ownership, licensing, and fishing activity; strengthening accountability; and enabling more sustainable and equitable management of marine resources.

Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ghana, said, “In my country, our very existence depends on fish. Sixty percent of our animal protein comes from fish, and ten percent of our population depends on the fisheries value chain for livelihood. Fisheries are a matter of culture and national security for us. I’m happy that Ghana is among the first countries to sign the Mombasa Declaration, because it provides a platform for all of us, the different governments, to come together and declare on an international platform that we are working together, fighting together for transparency in the fisheries sector.”

Madame Catherine Chabaud, Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fishery, France, said, “France is proud to be among the first supporters of the Mombasa Declaration on Fisheries Transparency, through its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). This initiative is based on a simple conviction: we will not be able to effectively combat IUU fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation. The Declaration provides an important opportunity for governments to demonstrate their political commitment to improving fisheries governance. We hope that many more countries will join this initiative and implement the commitments it promotes, making transparency the norm in the fisheries sector.”

The Mombasa Declaration was developed with support from the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency and its partners, including academics and practitioners, who are working with governments to advance increased transparency and accountability in fisheries governance and management.

Through the Declaration, signatory countries commit to advancing concrete transparency reforms, including modernizing vessel registries, publishing fishing authorizations, and strengthening information-sharing to support enforcement and accountability across fisheries sectors.

IUU fishing is a pervasive global challenge that undermines coastal communities, distorts markets, and weakens sound ocean governance. Experts estimate this costs the global economy up to $50 billion annually, while depriving legitimate fishers—particularly in low- and middle-income countries—of income and access to resources. IUU fishing contributes to declining fish stocks, threatening food security and livelihoods, and is often linked to serious human rights abuses, including unsafe working conditions and forced labor. Limited transparency in vessel ownership, tracking, and fishing activity and supply chains allows these practices to persist, making stronger access to reliable fisheries data and accountability mechanisms essential to protecting marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Maisie Pigeon, director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said, “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.”

Beth Lowell, Vice President at Oceana, said: “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. Transparency is essential to protecting our oceans and the livelihoods of those that depend on them. The Mombasa Declaration signals that governments around the world are ready to act against illegal fishing, and to work together for a more transparent, equitable, and sustainable ocean for all.”

Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, said: “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.”

Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch, said: “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 — sharing vessel identities, ownership or tracking data — they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide. Global Fishing Watch stands ready to equip these nations with the open data and analytical power to drive these transparency measures forward.”

Antha Williams, who leads the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “The countries that have endorsed the Mombasa Declaration are sending a clear signal that transparency is essential to a healthy ocean and sustainable fisheries. By improving access to reliable data, governments can make better decisions to manage marine resources. This declaration reflects a shared commitment to greater transparency in global fisheries, and we look forward to supporting efforts to turn this vision into meaningful action for coastal communities and marine ecosystems.”

###

The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency is a global network of more than fifty global civil society organisations that work together to improve transparency and accountability in fisheries governance and management. The Coalition promotes the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of 10 policy principles designed to ensure that information about fishing vessels, activities, and governance is publicly available, helping to combat illegal fishing, strengthen ocean governance, and protect human rights at sea. Learn more at fisheriestransparency.net.

Contact: Chip Weiskotten
Sr. Communications Manager, CFT
chip@fisheriestransparency.net
+1 518-669-3936

On IUU Day, CFT urges the APPG on Fisheries to Make Fisheries Transparency a Priority

London – 5 June 2026 – On the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) urges the APPG on Fisheries to fully include the implementation of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency in its Action Plan for a Thriving and Sustainable UK Fishing Industry.

35% of global fish stocks are currently fished unsustainably. The UK is not immune to this, with cod – a staple for fish and chips – being severely depleted, and mackerel being removed from supermarket shelves due to overfishing concerns. In total, half of the UK’s top ten fish stocks are either critically low, overexploited, or both.

UK seas are not free from IUU fishing either. Serious occurrences of illegal fishing and human rights violations of crew operating in British waters have been reported in recent years. To tackle this, the CFT is calling on the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fisheries to ensure that transparency and accountability are at the heart of the national Action Plan it is currently developing. This is vital for the UK to lead in the fight against IUU fishing nationally and globally.

Vivien Deloge, CFT UK Coordinator, said “The UK has currently implemented two out of ten principles of the Global Charter for Fisheries for Fisheries Transparency. The APPG on Fisheries’ Action Plan is an opportunity to call for the UK to go further, in particular on beneficial ownership information, seafood traceability, transparency of activity information, and remote electronic monitoring (REM) of fishing vessels.”

Kyle Lischak, Head of UK at ClientEarth, said “A key structural challenge facing the UK fishing sector is the lack of transparency over who ultimately owns and benefits from commercial fishing activity. It is indeed often difficult to determine who ultimately owns or controls fishing vessels. Strengthening beneficial ownership transparency would support both enforcement and the long-term sustainability of the sector.”

Steve Trent, CEO at the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), said “The public deserve to know that the seafood they are buying is not the product of environmental destruction or bonded, forced and slave labour. Fisheries transparency is the key to establishing who has caught what, when, where, and how – without it we cannot give consumers that assurance nor hold bad actors to account. The UK is importing over a quarter of its seafood imports from the worst offending countries for illegal fishing, yet critical border checks on these imports are at record lows. The UK must urgently strengthen and increase scrutiny of the seafood it imports if the UK is to avoid becoming a dumping ground for fish tainted by illegal fishing and human rights abuses.”

Lucy Kay, Public Affairs Manager (England) at Open Seas, said “Knowing that fishing vessels licensed to fish in UK waters are operating responsibly and abiding by the rules is a key to strengthening trust in UK-sourced fish and seafood products. Publishing information on fishing vessel compliance is a low cost step that will help instill confidence that seafood from the UK is responsibly sourced. Alongside this, improving on-the-water monitoring of catches will provide better data for trusted and evidence-led fisheries management, and deter vessel operators from breaching fishing regulations, helping to tackle major issues like wasteful and illegal discarding.”

The implementation of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency will help ensure transparent, equitable, and well-governed fisheries, free from harmful fishing practices and human rights and labour abuses, for the benefit of people and the ocean.

###

The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency is a global network of more than sixty global civil society organisations that work together to improve transparency and accountability in fisheries governance and management. ClientEarth, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Open Seas are leading the Coalition’s efforts in the United Kingdom to accelerate the adoption of the Principles of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. Their work aims to help the UK champion effective fisheries governance globally to strengthen the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Learn more at fisheriestransparency.net.

Contact: Vivien Deloge
UK Coordinator, CFT
vivien@fisheriestransparency.net
+44 79 084 2 6505

Coalition for Fisheries Transparency welcomes the UK’s ratification of IMO Cape Town Agreement

London – 14 May 2026 – The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) welcomes the UK’s ratification of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Cape Town Agreement, a major ocean treaty which will protect fisher safety at sea, advance fisheries transparency and help deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The UK is demonstrating its leadership by achieving Principle 8 of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency.

The UK has become the first State to ratify the IMO Cape Town Agreement since its full ratification in February 2026. This international treaty establishes global minimum safety standards for large commercial fishing vessels (24 m and above) that can operate on the high seas. These cover key parameters such as vessel stability and seaworthiness, fire safety, life-saving appliances, emergency procedures and radiocommunications.

The UK’s ratification comes just a few days after the National Fishing Remembrance Day 2026, held last Sunday. This day of commemoration reminds us that fishing has long been deemed one of the most dangerous professions in the world by the United Nations. It is estimated that more than 100,000 fishers die in the global fishing sector annually.

Vivien Deloge, UK Coordinator of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said “The UK has now ratified all three treaties aiming to fight IUU fishing; by doing so, it has successfully achieved Principle 8 of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency on the international IUU treaty framework, and positions itself as a clear international leader promoting safe, legal and sustainable fishing. I commend the UK for its ratification as an act of international solidarity, highlighting the need for global minimum safety standards for the benefits of all fishers worldwide.”

The Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency is a set of ten easy-to-implement principles aiming to address the lack of transparency in three critical areas: vessel information, fishing activity, and fisheries governance and management. The UK has been a supporter of the Global Charter since October 2024.

Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, said “The UK’s ratification of the IMO Cape Town Agreement demonstrates the international momentum for ocean action in general, and fisher safety at sea in particular. I invite all IMO States to build on this momentum and ratify the Cape Town Agreement to increase fisheries transparency and support the fight against IUU fishing, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 14.4.” (tbc)

Lord Robin Teverson, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fisheries and APPG for the Ocean, said “Safety at sea should never be taken for granted, and the UK’s ratification is a strong signal that the lives of every fisher worldwide matter. Ratification of the Cape Town Agreement is a key component of the IUU Fishing Action Alliance that the UK co-founded in 2022, and the UK is the only founding member to have delivered on this commitment.”

Chris Williams, Fisheries Section Coordinator at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said “For too long, fishing has remained one of the world’s most dangerous industries, with too many fishers paying the price for weak safety standards and poor oversight. The UK’s ratification of the Cape Town Agreement is a significant step towards ensuring that every fisher, regardless of where they work, is protected by international safety standards. Stronger regulation and transparency at sea are essential not only to safeguard lives, but also to tackling illegal fishing and promoting decent work across the global fishing industry.”

Olivia Swift, Head of Maritime Systems at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said “Fishing is a vital industry, but it remains far too dangerous. The Cape Town Agreement sets out practical, lifesaving standards that protect fishers and shine a light on vessels operating on the high seas. The UK’s ratification is an important step towards a safer, more transparent global fishing system.”

With the UK’s ratification, the Cape Town Agreement now includes 29 Parties with 3,859 fishing vessels. It will enter into force in February 2027. The Agreement will enhance transparency by allowing parties to inspect foreign-flagged fishing vessels, even if their flag State has not ratified the treaty.

###

Contact: Chip Weiskotten
Sr. Communications Manager, CFT
chip@fisheriestransparency.net
+1 518-669-3936

As Attenborough turns 100, the call to tackle illegal fishing has never been more urgent

London – 8 May 2026 – Environmental groups are calling for the UK Government to honour Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday by taking rapid action to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and implement the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. 1 in 5 fish caught globally are linked to IUU fishing, while around 90% of the world’s fish populations are already overexploited or fished to their limits.

Attenborough’s 2025 documentary Ocean caused shockwaves across the country, showing the devastating impacts of bottom trawling on the seafloor for the very first time on screen. The documentary also highlighted the issues of bycatch, overfishing caused by subsidies, and made the case for marine protected areas.

The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) – a global network of more than 60 civil society organizations pushing for accountability in fisheries management – says the best way to honour Attenborough’s achievements would be for the UK to implement the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of 10 principles designed to tackle the leading causes of lack of transparency that contributes to IUU fishing activities. They are low- or no-cost, and can be implemented by any nation immediately.

Countries around the world – including the UK – are supporting the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency to shine a light into the dark corners of the fishing industry, from human rights abuses and modern slavery to illegally caught seafood.

Vivien Deloge, UK Coordinator of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said, “Sir David Attenborough’s lifework obliges us to act without delay for safe, legal, and sustainable fishing, and emphasises more than ever the relevance of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency to that end.

“The CFT commends the UK Government for supporting the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency; we stand ready to assist them in implementing its ten principles and champion effective fisheries governance globally.”

Kyle Lischak, Head of UK at ClientEarth, said “Cracking down on IUU fishing is one of the most powerful actions we can take to protect our precious blue planet. Honouring Attenborough’s contributions in the UK by embracing the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency would be a major step forward and help tackle the worst offenders, protecting British coastal communities in the process.”

Lucy Kay, Public Affairs Manager (England) at Open Seas, said: “Sir David Attenborough has inspired for generations – bringing the natural world into our homes and highlighting not just how extraordinary our planet is, but how fragile as well. The oceans are no exception.

“His 100th birthday is a reminder of the responsibility we all share for protecting the natural systems we rely on, at sea and on shore. Transparent management of our seas, and the fisheries that depend on a healthy marine environment is an essential step to safeguard the seabed habitats and marine wildlife around the UK.”

###

Contact: Chip Weiskotten
Sr. Communications Manager, CFT
chip@fisheriestransparency.net
+1 518-669-3936