Number of countries in Kenya to adopt the Mombasa declaration, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Fifteen countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration in Kenya to intensify efforts against illegal fishing.
• The declaration calls for improved access to information on fishing vessels, ownership, and licensing.
• It was signed at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya.
• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the global economy up to $50 billion annually.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Mombasa Declaration aims to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen efforts to combat IUU fishing.
• Signatory nations committed to transparency reforms, including modernizing vessel registries and publishing fishing authorizations.
• The declaration also emphasizes enhancing information-sharing to support enforcement and accountability across the seafood supply chain.
• It builds support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a framework developed by the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency.
• IUU fishing depletes fish stocks, threatens food security and livelihoods, and is often linked to human rights abuses.
• The 15 endorsing countries include nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, such as Belgium, Ghana, South Korea, and Peru.
• This initiative provides a crucial platform for international cooperation to improve fisheries governance and ensure sustainable marine resources.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mombasa Declaration: A commitment by 15 nations to enhance fisheries transparency and combat IUU fishing through improved data access and sharing.
• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: Fishing activities that violate national or international laws, are not reported to authorities, or occur in areas without proper management measures.
• Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency: A framework of 10 policy principles developed by the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency to improve governance and combat IUU fishing.