Yaoundé, Cameroon – On October 10, 2024, key stakeholders from Cameroon’s fisheries sector, international partners, and policymakers gathered in Yaoundé for an important workshop aimed at improving the governance of the country’s industrial fishing sector. The event, held at the Tou’Ngou Hotel, was part of the U.S. Department of State-funded DWFV Project, which seeks to strengthen fisheries management and enhance local governance in the Gulf of Guinea region.
The workshop, which focused on the challenges posed by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, brought together representatives from Cameroon’s Ministry of Fisheries (MINEPIA), the U.S. Embassy, and various academic and policy institutions. Discussions centered on adopting policy actions to enhance Cameroon’s Maritime Control and Surveillance (MCS) capacity, while addressing the destabilizing impact of foreign industrial vessels operating in the region.
Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, the project lead, highlighted the importance of empowering local stakeholders for better national ownership and more sustainable fisheries practices. Participants agreed on a set of recommendations aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and local capacity to combat IUU fishing, with a focus on ensuring greater economic and livelihood benefits for communities across Africa.
This workshop marks a crucial step toward more resilient and sustainable fisheries governance in the region.