Illegal fishing: Cameroon joins global fisheries transparency charter

By Jabi Katy Chale
Cameroon has taken a major step in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by officially joining the global charter for transparency in fisheries. The announcement, made on April 29, at the 10th Our ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea, marks a significant move toward ensuring sustainable management of the country’s fishery resources.
Speaking on behalf of the Cameroonian government, Mimbang Irene Guy, technical advisor at the ministry of Livestock, fisheries and animal industries reveals the motivation behind this development. “Cameroon supports the global charter for transparency and will work to implement these principles in the coming years. The driving force behind these advances is our conviction that, while transparency is not an end in itself, it is an essential lever in combatting IUU fishing for the benefit of the populations and economic actors who respect the rules. We understand that this is a long-term struggle and we are doing our part to address these challenges.
More than 212,000 artisanal fishers depend on Cameroon’s coastal ecosystems, generating over 84% of fish production in the country, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation. Yet, the sector faces numerous threats, with IUU fishing posing some of the most severe impacts on artisanal communities. The prevalence of such activities has led to strong international criticisms, including a “yellow card” from the European Union in February 2021 and a “red card” in January 2023.
Cameroon’s decision to Join the charter, is seen as a hopeful and positive step towards reversing these trends and improving the plight of artisanal fishing communities.
“This overwhelming support for the Global Charter demonstrates Cameroon’s commitment to moving towards sustainable, legal, and ethical fishing. Cameroon’s coastal communities and fisherfolk will benefit most, as their livelihoods and food security will be strengthened, but this move will have global repercussions. We warmly welcome their decision and leadership, while noting that there is still work to be done,” remarked Steve Trent, EJF’s Executive Director and Founder, said:
Echoing these thoughts is Maise Pigeon, Director of the coalition for fisheries transparency who considers this move critical to accountability. ” “Without action, IUU fishing will continue to deplete fisheries, destroy ocean habitats, and threaten global food security,” said Pigeon. “We’re thrilled to see the growing momentum toward more transparent fisheries…..There can be no accountability without transparency. Fisheries transparency is not just good governance, it’s essential for the long-term sustainability of our oceans and the livelihoods they support.”
The global charter for transparency in fisheries outlines 10 policy principles covering vessel management, fishing activity, monitoring and governance systems. These principles are designed to be adopted by governments globally, both in law and in practice, to prevent illegal fishing or human right violations at sea.