The illicit Blue Economy in Africa

Africa has identified IUU fishing as a threat in the context of developing a sustainable blue economy in line with the Integrated African Strategy for Seas and Oceans-Horizon 2050. The Lomé Charter on Maritime Safety and Security and Development in Africa adopted in 2016 calls on states to take all necessary measures to combat IUU fishing. An option that is in line with the objectives of SDG 14. In a changing global context, African states have taken up the issue at domestic, sub-regional and regional levels. However, the different levels of adaptation observed between States in the exercise of their responsibilities in the fight against IUU fishing pose new challenges. These include the generalisation of the domestication of international legal instruments to combat IUU fishing, the strengthening of inter-administrative, inter-state, regional and international cooperation, the development of public-private partnerships and the construction of a harmonised continental legal framework in the fight against IUU fishing.