Strengthening Africa’s Capacity for Adherence to, Domestication and Implementation of Global Fisheries Management Instruments and their Implications for the African Continent

Abstract

This Advocacy Note argues for accelerated ratification, domestication, and implementation of three Global fisheries management Instruments across Africa: The United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (1995), the FAO Compliance Agreement (1993), and the Port State Measures Agreement (2009). It draws on the AU-IBAR Continental Expert Training Workshop held in Lomé, Togo (10–12 March 2026) under the Sida-funded project on Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the African Blue Economy. While awareness of the Instruments is high, progress remains uneven, constrained by weak vessel registries, limited Monitoring, Control and Surveillance capacity, inadequate port infrastructure, fragmented coordination and insufficient financing. The Note sets out eight priority recommendations spanning political commitment, legal reform, institutional capacity, regional cooperation, sustainable financing and accountability, offering a roadmap for combating IUU fishing and advancing Africa's Blue Economy.