Coalition for Fisheries Transparency Backs Philippine Government’s Bid to Restore Vessel Monitoring

International coalition of more than 50 organizations says loss of VMS mandate puts Philippine seafood exports and regional commitments at risk

Washington, D.C. – August 11, 2026 – The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) today expressed its support for the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in seeking reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s January 21 decision declaring Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 266 unconstitutional. The order required Philippine-flagged commercial fishing vessels to carry vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and submit electronic catch reports.

Vessel monitoring is a foundational tool of modern fisheries management. It is used by coastal and flag States worldwide to verify compliance with closed seasons and area restrictions, to support investigations into illegal operators, and to generate the data on which science-based management depends. Its removal leaves Philippine authorities with materially less capacity to detect illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including incursions by commercial vessels into the municipal waters reserved for small-scale fishers.

Ryan Orgera, Director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said, “The Philippines is one of the world’s most significant fishing nations, and vessel monitoring has become a standard expectation of responsible fisheries governance globally. Without a clear legal framework requiring vessel monitoring, the country’s ability to combat illegal fishing, meet regional fisheries commitments, and provide the assurances increasingly demanded by seafood markets is weakened. The solution is not less transparency, but a monitoring system that is both effective and fully aligned with constitutional protections. We welcome BFAR’s efforts to develop that path forward.”

CFT notes with concern the Court’s finding that the government had not established that the absence of FAO 266 would carry consequences for the Philippines’ international commitments. From the vantage point of organizations working on fisheries transparency across more than 25 countries, the international consequences are concrete and immediate.

Vessel monitoring is an established requirement in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in which the Philippines participates, including the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Both mandate VMS on fishing vessels, with position reporting serving as a cornerstone of shared compliance measures.

The consequences for seafood exporters are equally direct. Major import markets increasingly condition access on verifiable proof of where fish was caught. The European Union requires VMS data as part of flag State verification under its IUU Regulation and may request raw VMS records for consignments entering the European market. Without a VMS mandate, Philippine exporters may find themselves unable to satisfy documentation requirements in precisely the markets on which the sector depends.

CFT recognizes the commercial sensitivities raised by the vessel operators challenging the order. But those concerns can be addressed through safeguards for monitoring data, rather than eliminating the requirement altogether. VMS data is transmitted to regulators for enforcement and management purposes and is subject to confidentiality protections. Moreover, VMS is not the only source of information about fishing activity: AIS broadcasts, satellite-based vessel detection, and other publicly available data can already provide insights into vessel movements and productive fishing areas. Removing VMS would weaken fisheries oversight without meaningfully eliminating operators’ exposure to information about their activities at sea.  

Orgera added, “CFT welcomes commitments by BFAR to rectify the identified deficiencies and review its implementing mechanisms to ensure any future framework is aligned with constitutional safeguards. We stand ready to support that work, including by sharing comparative practice on data-protection safeguards, proportionate monitoring design, and monitoring frameworks that apply consistently across fleet segments. We also urge lawmakers to begin consideration of new laws that would reinstate VMS in a way that aligns with the Philippines’ international commitments.”

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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

Coalition for Fisheries Transparency Names Ryan Orgera as New Director

Washington, D.C. – July 20, 2026 –The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) announced the appointment of Dr. Ryan Orgera as its new Director. Based in Ottawa, Canada, Orgera brings more than a decade of experience advancing ocean conservation, fisheries sustainability, and transparency initiatives around the world.

As Director, Orgera will lead CFT’s efforts to advance transparency and accountability in fisheries management, build support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, and work with governments, civil society organizations, and other partners to drive meaningful reforms that support sustainable and equitable fisheries.

An environmental social scientist, Orgera most recently served as Global Director of the advocacy organization Accountability.Fish and previously held leadership roles including marine policy fellow in the United States Senate and CEO of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, a regional conservancy. He is an expert in ocean governance and multilateral fisheries processes, with experience working through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and United Nations forums. Over the past three years, he served on CFT’s Steering Committee, helping guide the Coalition’s strategic direction.

Dr. Ryan Orgera said, “I am proud to have supported CFT’s mission as a Steering Committee member, and I am honored to now lead the Coalition’s work. Transparency is fundamental to sustainable fisheries management, stronger ocean stewardship, and combating illegal fishing. I look forward to working with our members and partners around the world to advance practical reforms that benefit both people and the ocean.”

Maisie Pigeon, Senior Director of Global Transparency at Oceana, said, “Ryan brings a deep understanding of fisheries transparency, a strong track record of advocacy and coalition building, and a clear vision for advancing CFT’s mission. Having worked alongside him for several years, I am confident he will build on the Coalition’s success and help drive even greater progress toward transparent, accountable, and sustainable fisheries worldwide.

The Coalition recently announced the signing of the Mombasa Declaration, a commitment by 16 countries to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The Coalition is working with the signatory countries to advance practical transparency measures, outlined in the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, to improve access to information on vessel ownership, licensing, and fishing activity; strengthening accountability; and enabling more sustainable and equitable management of marine resources.

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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

Transparency takes center stage at Our Ocean Conference

Whose boat is this? Launching our Second UK Report in Westminster

On 30 June 2026, the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) launched its second UK report, Whose boat is this? Ultimate Beneficial Ownership in UK fishing, at a parliamentary roundtable in Westminster. The event, chaired by Lloyd Hatton MP, brought together parliamentarians and experts to address the key reforms required to identify who is really profiting from illegal fishing activity.

The report’s findings bring to light a worrying reality: the UK has currently no effective system to publicly identify who ultimately owns or profits from commercial fishing vessels under its jurisdiction. This creates a gap that allows dodgy operators engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to operate without scrutiny.

The roundtable was attended by panelists Barry Gardiner MP, Kyle Lischak of ClientEarth, Margot Mollat of Transparency International UK, and Lawrence Marzout of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, who discussed the implementation of Principle 3 of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency and how greater transparency can strengthen accountability, deter environmental crime, and support sustainable fisheries management.

This launch marks an important milestone for CFT’s UK advocacy, highlighting the need to strengthen the enforcement of company disclosure requirements and restrict access to UK waters for commercial vessels with opaque ownership so as to close loopholes allowing anonymity to persist. We thank the APPG for Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax and APPG on International Conservation for sponsoring the event and look forward to working with policymakers to strengthen the UK’s framework on vessel ownership to protect both people and oceans.

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.”

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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

Full Ratification of Cape Town Agreement Advances Global Fisheries Transparency

Washington, D.C. – February 25, 2026 – The Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) welcomes the full ratification of the Cape Town Agreement, a major ocean treaty aiming to protect fishers’ lives at sea, which will help deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and is a key component of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. 

The Cape Town Agreement is a binding treaty through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) designed to enhance the safety of crew working on large commercial fishing vessels through essential safety standards on fire safety, life-saving appliances, emergency procedures, radiocommunications, vessel stability, and seaworthiness. Until the Cape Town Agreement enters into force, there are no mandatory global safety regulations for fishing vessels.

With the ratification of the Solomon Islands, South Korea and Argentina, the Cape Town Agreement for the Safety of Fishing Vessels is now fully ratified, with 28 Parties representing 3,754 fishing vessels, paving the way for its entry into force in a year’s time.

Maisie Pigeon, Director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said “While fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, the Cape Town Agreement will ensure global minimum safety standards are in place for the benefit of all fishers operating on large commercial fishing vessels worldwide. This Agreement is a key measure of worker safety as outlined in the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency and will lead to a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable global ocean.”

Fishing remains an extremely dangerous occupation, with a recent study showing more than 100,000 fatalities annually in the global fishing sector. Vessel safety and IUU fishing are closely linked, as operators who engage in IUU are less likely to maintain adequate working conditions, training, or safety equipment, according to the United Nations. 

With an estimated 45,000 fishing vessels over 24 meters in length across the world, the Cape Town Agreement holds immense potential to enhance the safety standards of large-scale fisheries. Safe and healthy crews are an essential part of successful fisheries, making the Cape Town Agreement an important instrument alongside other standards including the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Port States Measures Agreement and the International Labor Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention (No. C188).

Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, said, “I welcome the full ratification of the IMO Cape Town Agreement. It represents a double win for the world: firstly, for the safety of fishers around the world and thereby the well-being of their families; and secondly, for the International Maritime Organization’s momentum. Coming on the heels of the ratification of the BBNJ High Seas Treaty and the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the ratification of the IMO Cape Town Agreement is turning 2026 into a watershed year for ocean action.”

Milko Schvartzman, Oceans Program coordinator at the Círculo de Políticas Ambientales (Argentina), said, “The Cape Town Agreement will impose stricter global standards on crew safety and working conditions. Once in force, it will help combat human exploitation, resource depletion, and IUU fishing—particularly in vulnerable regions like the Southwest Atlantic. Its entry into force now with Argentina’s ratification will not only save lives at sea but also strengthen the fight against IUU fishing that severely affects developing countries across Latin America.”

Safety at sea became a global priority following the Titanic disaster in 1912. While diplomatic efforts led to the adoption of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1974 – which applies to shipping vessels – no equivalent treaty ever entered into force for fishing vessels, despite multiple attempts in 1977 and 1993. 

Vivien Deloge, UK Coordinator of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said, “The upcoming entry into force of the Cape Town Agreement will put an end to a very long wait – half a century – to grant fishers international standards of protection at sea. The Coalition encourages all remaining IMO Member States to follow suit and ratify the Agreement to ensure its widespread implementation so as to further advance fisheries transparency worldwide.”

Parties to the Cape Town Agreement will have the possibility to inspect the safety of fishing vessels and their crews, enhancing transparency of fishing activities and strengthening safe, legal and sustainable fishing worldwide.

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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. Learn more at fisheriestransparency.net.

Contact:

Chip Weiskotten, Sr. Communications Manager, CFT

chip@fisheriestransparency.net

+1 518-669-3936

2025 Year in Review: Advancing Global Fisheries Transparency

From policy wins to global collaboration, the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency reflects on a year of impact.

As 2025 comes to a close, the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) celebrates a year of progress toward our mission: building a world where fisheries are transparent, accountable, and sustainable. Together with our growing network, we’ve made meaningful strides to strengthen governance and combat harmful practices.

Expanding Our Global Network

This year, CFT welcomed 10 new member organizations, including first-time representation in Tanzania and Vietnam. Our Coalition now spans 64 countries across all major global regions, connecting civil society voices to drive transparency forward.

Driving Policy Change

Transparency is a powerful tool for safer, fairer fisheries. In 2025, we took concrete steps toward that goal:

• 4 new countries formally endorsed the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency: Ghana, South Korea, Liberia and Cameroon. The government of Taiwan also announced that they will be adopting fisheries management policies that align with the Charter’s transparency goals. 
• 8 countries signed onto the Yaoundé Declaration, publicly declaring their commitment to fisheries transparency: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. 
• 15 governments were engaged through CFT advocacy, including Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, South Korea, and the UK. The results of this include a landmark fisheries law in Ghana, which will act as a model for other coastal States around the world. 
• Vanuatu and Ghana ratified the Cape Town Agreement (aligned with Principle 8 of the Global Charter) and the UK committed to ratify during the UN Ocean Conference. These successes were fueled by coordinated civil society action, including 15 organizational signatories on letters to key decision-makers.

Strengthening Collaboration

At the Our Ocean Conference and UN Ocean Conference, CFT led NGO alignment efforts, bringing together 10+ organizations to coordinate messaging and amplify transparency-focused policy asks.

In February, we hosted a regional convening in Seoul, uniting 26 participants from 12 organizations across East Asia to develop a shared strategy on transparency and traceability.

Sharing Knowledge

Our newsletter spotlighted 25 transparency-related tools, projects, and achievements from across the network—helping 250+ stakeholders learn and collaborate on effective tactics.

Looking Ahead

2026 promises even greater momentum. We’re gearing up for the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, where transparency will take center stage. Together, we’ll continue pushing for policies that protect ocean ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Thank you to our members, partners, and advocates for making 2025 a year of impact. Here’s to an even stronger 2026!

Criminal Catches: Launching Our First UK Report in Westminster

On 9 September 2025, the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT) launched its first UK report, Criminal catches: How to stop the illegal flow of seafood to the UK, at a parliamentary roundtable in Westminster. The event, chaired by Barry Gardiner MP, brought together parliamentarians and experts to address the growing risks posed by illegally caught seafood entering the UK market.