L-R: Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, and FCWC Secretary-General, Mr. Antoine Gaston Djihinto, when Djihinto led the FCWC secretariat staff on a working visit to the Minister in his office in Abuja, recently.
Nigeria has agreed to serve as the pilot country for the implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels in West Africa, underscoring its resolve to match regional leadership with decisive action in combating illegal fishing and strengthening marine governance across the Gulf of Guinea.
The commitment was announced by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during a high-level meeting with the FCWC Secretary General and members of the Secretariat in Abuja.
Oyetola stated that Nigeria’s decision to host the pilot phase of the Regional Record reflects its determination to translate regional commitments into measurable outcomes that advance sustainable fisheries management.
The proposed Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels will establish a verified and centralised database of industrial fishing vessels permitted to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC member states, covering both national and foreign fleets. The system aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and cross-border collaboration in a region significantly impacted by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The initiative builds on a roadmap endorsed by member states and reaffirmed in the Monrovia Declaration, which outlines steps toward operationalising the register as a shared governance tool across West Central Africa.
According to the Minister, the pilot phase will assess operational feasibility, identify potential gaps, and generate practical lessons to guide broader regional implementation. He pledged that Nigeria would leverage its experience to support other member states as the initiative expands.
“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.
This initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening transparency, accountability, and cooperation in fisheries governance across our shared waters”, Oyetola said.
He also highlighted complementary regional initiatives, including joint patrols and enforcement operations under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme, implemented by the FCWC in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency, aimed at deterring illegal fishing activities.
Oyetola further disclosed that Nigeria’s draft National Plan of Action on IUU Fishing is currently under review and being updated following the transfer of fisheries oversight to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The move, he said, reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to tackling illicit fishing and safeguarding marine resources.
In addition, the Minister proposed deeper institutional collaboration with the FCWC, including a high-level Nigerian delegation to the organisation’s Secretariat and regional monitoring centre. He also called for harmonisation of food safety and fisheries regulatory standards across member states to strengthen trade and consumer protection within the sub-region.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to regional cooperation, Oyetola said his tenure as Chairman of the FCWC Conference of Ministers would prioritise practical outcomes, institutional strengthening, and the sustainable utilisation of ocean resources. He described the pilot vessel register as a defining milestone in promoting transparent and accountable fisheries governance in West Africa.
Earlier, the FCWC Secretary General, Mr. Antoine Gaston Djihinto, commended the Minister for his strong commitment to combating IUU fishing and boosting fish production in Nigeria. He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry for hosting what he described as an “outstanding and highly commendable” FCWC Conference in Lagos in November 2025.
The FCWC established in 2007, is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes regional cooperation in fisheries management among its six member states: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo.
PpHeadquartered in Tema, Ghana, the FCWC works to ensure the sustainable development and optimal utilisation of shared marine resources while intensifying efforts to combat IUU fishing. Its core mandate includes harmonising fisheries legislation, strengthening monitoring and surveillance systems, and advancing a sustainable blue economy to support the livelihoods of small-scale fishers across the sub-region.