Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire — September 19, 2024: A high-level stakeholder engagement meeting was held today at the Palm Club Hôtel in Abidjan, bringing together governmental and maritime experts to address the pressing issue of foreign industrial fishing vessels in Ivorian waters. The event, organized by the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS Africa) and the Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) of the University of Cape Coast, focused on the negative impacts of Distant Water Fishing Vessels (DWFV) in the Gulf of Guinea.
The meeting, which was supported by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Accra, aimed to enhance transparency, accountability, and local capacity in Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime governance. Discussions highlighted illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, safety concerns, and the need for stronger policy enforcement. Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali from CEMLAWS and representatives from SEPCIM-AEM led the dialogue, emphasizing the importance of national ownership and regional collaboration in managing industrial fisheries.
The event concluded with key recommendations to ensure greater local control over the fishing industry, fostering economic stability and environmental sustainability in Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime domain.