NEWS: The Mombasa Declaration was adopted at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya to strengthen global action against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

ABOUT

• A global call for greater transparency and accountability in fisheries governance.
• Supported by the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, comprising over 60 civil society organizations.
• Promotes implementation of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency.

KEY COMMITMENTS

• Modernization of fishing vessel registries.
• Public disclosure of fishing authorizations.
• Improved vessel ownership records.
• Enhanced information-sharing among countries.
• Greater transparency in fishing activities.

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

• Endorsed by countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, including Belgium, Ghana, Liberia, Panama, Peru, South Korea, France, and others.
• India is not a signatory.

NEED FOR THE DECLARATION

• IUU fishing threatens marine ecosystems and fish stocks.
• Affects livelihoods of coastal communities and small-scale fishers.
• Undermines food security, particularly in developing countries.
• Linked to human rights violations such as forced labour and worker exploitation.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Promotes sustainable fisheries management and marine resource conservation.
• Strengthens transparency and international cooperation.
• Helps curb economic losses from IUU fishing (estimated at up to $50 billion annually).
• Aims to make fisheries transparency a global norm before the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027.