Our Ocean conference host country South Korea, along with Ghana and Cameroon, officially endorsed the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency at the conference. The charter is a set of 10 policy principles designed to ensure that information about vessels and fishing activity is widely available to promote responsible fisheries management, eliminate illegal practices, and protect human rights at sea. Panama also made a key commitment, pledging to publish the ownership of fishing vessels.
“Our research has shown that when seafood supply chains aren’t properly monitored, high-risk fishing vessels can slip through the cracks, selling seafood linked to illegal fishing and human rights abuses into national markets and the global seafood supply,” said Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation and co-chair of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency.
“The problem is clear: we can’t manage what we can’t see… Transparency may seem abstract, but it is a powerful tool for a better future. It ensures fishers can work safely and with dignity. It levels the playing field for responsible operators. It safeguards marine wildlife for future generations. It restores balance to an ocean in crisis. With Korea, Ghana, and Cameroon now leading the way, the message is clear: transparency is no longer optional. The question now is: who will be next?”
“While transparency is not an end in itself, it’s an essential lever to fight against IUU fishing to the benefit of the population and economic players who abide by the rules,” said Mimbang Irene Guy, Technical Advisor to Minister, Cameroon Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries. “We recognize that this is a long term battle and we are contributing our effort to meet these challenges.”
