Nigeria and Ghana have moved to strengthen cooperation on fisheries governance, vessel authorisation and maritime security as both countries seek to combat illegal fishing, protect marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Gulf of Guinea....
Nigeria and Ghana have moved to strengthen cooperation on fisheries governance, vessel authorisation and maritime security as both countries seek to combat illegal fishing, protect marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this after meeting Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, in Accra.
Oyetola said illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remained a shared concern with serious implications for food security, government revenue and the economic wellbeing of fishing communities.
He stressed that stronger coordination between the two countries was essential to tackling the menace and ensuring the sustainable management of fisheries resources.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s pilot implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels offers a practical framework for collaboration with Ghana on verifying vessel authorisations, exchanging information and resolving discrepancies through the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
Arthur, he said, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to combating illegal fishing, commended Nigeria’s efforts against piracy and sought its support in sharing experience on marine and blue economy policy development.
Oyetola also visited the FCWC Secretariat in Tema, where he met the Secretary-General, Dr Antoine Djihinto, and other officials.
The minister, who serves as president of the FCWC, commended the progress recorded by the regional body over the past year and pledged to work with all six member states to strengthen fisheries governance and combat illegal fishing.
Regional cooperation against illegal fishing
Established in 2007, the FCWC is a regional fisheries organisation comprising Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. It facilitates cooperation in fisheries management among countries that share marine fish stocks.
The organisation also operates a Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre in Tema, Ghana, which combines vessel monitoring system data, Automatic Identification System information and visual data to track fishing vessels operating in the region.
The centre enables member states to monitor vessel movements and fishing activities across national maritime jurisdictions, strengthening cooperation among countries whose fisheries resources and fishing fleets cross borders.
Nigeria pilots regional fishing vessel register
Nigeria was selected as the pilot country for the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels, an initiative designed to establish a verified database of industrial fishing vessels authorised to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC member states.
The regional initiative is intended to improve transparency and accountability by making reliable information about authorised vessels more accessible to relevant authorities.
According to the FCWC, Nigeria’s pilot phase will help test the system, identify implementation gaps and provide lessons for its eventual expansion across the region.
The FCWC held a sensitisation workshop in Lagos in June 2026 to explain the initiative to vessel owners, operators, the Nigerian Navy, fisheries authorities and other stakeholders.
Registration is expected to begin in 2027, with industrial fishing vessels operating in Nigeria included in the pilot at no charge through the end of 2028, according to the regional body.
The register is expected to help authorities verify whether vessels have the necessary authorisation to fish in designated waters, identify discrepancies in licensing information and strengthen enforcement against unauthorised operations.
Implications for Nigeria’s fishing communities
Illegal fishing poses a challenge to sustainable fish production, government revenue and the livelihoods of artisanal fishers who depend on marine resources for their income.
The FCWC has identified economic losses, environmental damage and maritime insecurity among the consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in West Africa.
For Nigeria’s coastal communities, effective monitoring and enforcement could help protect fish stocks, support legitimate fishing businesses and improve the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Stronger vessel tracking and information sharing could also help authorities identify suspicious fishing activities and coordinate responses when vessels operate across national boundaries.
However, the effectiveness of the regional register will depend on reliable data, cooperation among participating countries and the ability of relevant authorities to enforce fisheries regulations.
Oyetola said Nigeria remained committed to working with Ghana and other FCWC member states to protect marine resources, promote sustainable production and improve the livelihoods of coastal populations.
“Our shared responsibility is to protect marine resources, promote sustainable production and improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
The minister added that Nigeria would continue to support regional cooperation aimed at building a sustainable and prosperous blue economy.