The Politicisation of unsustainable fisheries practices in Africa

AfriCan Geopardy

In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, Ife Okafor-Yarwood, discusses the "politicisation of unsustainable fisheries practices in Africa". Her reflection is driven by what she views as the "Chinalisation" of threats to sustainable fisheries in Africa, which she believes undermine collective efforts towards sustainable fisheries. The discussion explores numerous instances where EU and European companies and vessels have contributed to unsustainable fishing practices and by extension, the depletion of fish stock on the continent.

For policymakers and implementers on the African continent, the focus should be strengthening the laws, empowering enforcement agencies, improving monitoring, control, and surveillance capability, and collaborating with their neighbours.

If you are interested in learning more about the issues raised, you may check the following sources:

1. Greenpeace, (2021). Major European companies linked to food insecurity in West Africa - Greenpeace Africa
2. Oceana, (2021). Oceana-Summary6-22
3. CFFA, (2023). 'It takes two to tango' – EU fishing partnerships agreements must become more attractive to partner countries — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (cffacape.org)
4. Okafor-Yarwood I., and Belhabib D. (2020). The duplicity of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy in third countries: Evidence from the Gulf of Guinea - ScienceDirect