Think biG!

Urge- DevWire

News. Analysis. Events

Urge Development Brief

Urge Development Brief Desk | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

Mombasa | 17 June 2026

Fifteen countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, committing to strengthen action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The declaration calls on governments to improve access to information on fishing vessels, ownership and licensing, and to strengthen data sharing in order to track fishing activity and support enforcement.

The initiative is intended to improve transparency in fisheries governance and protect marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

Countries that adopted the declaration included Somalia, Ghana, France, South Korea, Panama, Chile, Liberia, Peru and others represented at the conference.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains a major concern for coastal and island economies, affecting food security, fisheries revenue and the livelihoods of communities that depend on marine resources.

For East Africa, the declaration is especially relevant to Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania, where fisheries governance, maritime security and coastal economic development remain central to blue economy policy.

Source: Our Ocean Conference platform

Countries Adopt Mombasa Declaration to Fight Illegal Fishing