Context
Fifteen countries have adopted the Mombasa Declaration to strengthen global efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and promote sustainable fisheries management.
About Mombasa Declaration
- It seeks to improve fisheries governance through greater transparency in vessel ownership, registration, and licensing.
- The declaration promotes enhanced international cooperation and data sharing to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and enforcement of fisheries regulations.
- It supports the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which advocates governance reforms such as modernising vessel registries and increasing transparency in fishing authorisations.
- The initiative aims to safeguard marine ecosystems and protect the livelihoods of communities dependent on fisheries resources.
- The declaration was adopted at the 11th Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya, from which it derives its name.
- The Our Ocean Conference, launched in 2014, serves as a global platform that brings together governments, businesses, civil society organisations, and academic institutions to advance ocean conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources.
- The conference focuses on marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, blue economy, climate change, maritime security, and marine pollution.
- Since its inception, it has mobilised thousands of commitments and substantial investments towards ocean sustainability.
- The 2026 edition, held in Mombasa, Kenya, was the first Our Ocean Conference hosted in Africa and was organised under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.”.
