AT the Our Ocean Conference hosted in Kenya, the governments of Kenya, Seychelles, Gabon, Tanzania and South Africa unveiled a set of country-led commitments to advance electronic monitoring, the use of onboard video cameras, GPS and sensors to monitor and verify fishing activities to strengthen transparency across their fisheries. These announcements reflect growing African leadership in modernising fisheries management and improving accountability at sea.
Countries are advancing electronic monitoring at different stages, from piloting and system development to formal national commitments, but together they signal a clear regional shift toward transparent, data-driven fisheries management. While tuna fisheries are leading the way, these efforts are increasingly extending across multiple fisheries, supporting better science, stronger enforcement, and more resilient coastal economies.
These commitments highlight growing momentum among coastal nations, in collaboration with industry and civil society partners, to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strengthen oversight of industrial fleets.
“This is the kind of decisive leadership the global community has been calling for countries to step forward not just with ambition, but with clear, time-bound commitments to transparency and accountability at sea,” said Ben Gilmer, Director of Large-Scale Fisheries at The Nature Conservancy.
Dr Jan Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Seychelles Fisheries Authority, said the Government of Seychelles is joining a growing group of governments and industry partners in signing the Tuna Transparency Pledge, committing to achieve 100% on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna vessels in its waters by 2027.
“Seychelles has long been a leader in sustainable tuna fisheries, and by joining the Tuna Transparency Pledge, we are reinforcing our commitment to full accountability at sea. Transparency is not only essential for conservation, but it is also fundamental to maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of our tuna sector,” said Dr Robinson.
Daisy Karimi Muriuki, Director General, Kenya Fisheries Service, said the Government of Kenya has committed to achieving 100% electronic monitoring of all industrial fishing vessels operating in its waters, with onboard observers, by 2030.
“As host of the Our Ocean Conference, Kenya is proud to lead by example. Our commitment to achieving 100% monitoring across industrial fisheries reflects our determination to build a transparent, science-based management system that protects marine resources while delivering long-term economic benefits for our people,” she said.
Gabon is advancing a comprehensive approach to fisheries transparency with plans to expand electronic monitoring across its fleets by October 2028. Through the Gabon Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation project (Obligations Bleues), supported by The Nature Conservancy’s Nature Bonds Program, the country is set to unlock $163 million in long-term financing over 15 years for ocean conservation and a sustainable blue economy. As part of this initiative, scaling electronic monitoring will strengthen fisheries management, deter illegal fishing and help protect marine ecosystems for future generations.
Dr Mathew Ogalo Silas, Deputy Director General, Deep Sea Fishing Authority, United Republic of Tanzania, said they are taking important steps to transform their fisheries sector, including piloting and scaling electronic monitoring systems. These efforts will strengthen data collection, improve compliance and lay the foundation for more sustainable and transparent fisheries management.”
