The Mombasa Declaration is a call for governments to strengthen fisheries transparency through better ocean governance, effective vessel monitoring and access to reliable data.
Signed by 15 states at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, the declaration aims to support global action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It also builds momentum behind the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which sets out ten practical policy principles that governments can adopt to make fisheries more open, accountable and sustainable.
Transparency from boat to plate
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries. It undermines marine ecosystems, weakens food security, damages livelihoods and makes it harder for governments to manage fish stocks fairly and effectively.
According to FAO, Around 35% of global fish stocks are currently fished at unsustainable levels, while IUU fishing is estimated to account for a significant share of the global catch. The economic costs are substantial, but the human costs are just as serious. When fish stocks decline, coastal communities often feel the impact first through reduced income, rising food insecurity and fewer opportunities for local fishers.
IUU fishing is also linked to wider abuses at sea, including unsafe working conditions, forced labour and lack of accountability in distant-water fishing fleets. This is why transparency matters. Without reliable information about vessel ownership, fishing activity, licensing and supply chains, harmful practices can remain hidden.
Maisie Pigeon, director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, said the countries signing the Mombasa Declaration represent “a diverse range of economies and geographies,” showing that momentum for transparency at sea is becoming global.
Why coastal communities need transparency
For many coastal communities, fisheries are not only an economic sector. They are a source of food, culture, employment and security.
In countries such as Senegal, concerns have grown around pressure from industrial fishing fleets, declining fish populations and competition between large vessels and artisanal fishers. When transparency is limited, it becomes harder to know who is fishing, where they are operating, whether they are licensed and whether rules designed to protect local fishers are being respected.
The same issue can be seen in other parts of the world, where distant-water fleets operate near national waters and beyond areas of direct jurisdiction. Stronger vessel tracking, ownership information and open data can help governments, researchers and civil society identify risks earlier and respond more effectively.
The Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture for Ghana, highlighted the importance of fisheries to national life, noting that fish provides a major source of animal protein and livelihoods in her country. Her comments underline why fisheries transparency is not only an environmental issue, but also a matter of food security, economic justice and national resilience.
What governments are committing to
Through the Mombasa Declaration, states commit to advancing practical transparency measures outlined in the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. These include stronger accountability policies, improved monitoring, control and surveillance, better information sharing, capacity building and more open access to fisheries data.
These measures can help governments identify illegal activity, strengthen compliance and improve fisheries management. They can also support broader ocean priorities, including marine spatial planning, climate adaptation, maritime security and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch, described the declaration as a turning point, arguing that when governments share vessel identities, ownership and tracking data, they create a network in which bad actors have fewer places to hide.
The success of the Mombasa Declaration will depend on implementation. Commitments must move from conference statements into law, policy and practice. But the direction is important. Fisheries transparency gives governments, coastal communities and legitimate fishers a stronger foundation for fairness, accountability and sustainable ocean management.
From boat to plate, knowing where fish comes from, and who benefits from catching it, is essential to protecting both marine life and the people who depend on it.