GOVERNANCE, ENFORCEMENT AND IUU FISHING: SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY

Abstract

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has emerged as one of the gravest threats to Africa’s maritime governance and the sustainability of its Blue Economy. This article examined the nexus between IUU fishing and the Blue Economy, arguing that the two concepts are fundamentally incompatible, as illegal fishing depletes fish stocks, weakens marine ecosystems, distorts markets, and impoverishes coastal communities. The study adopted a socio-legal and analytical approach by examining the socio-economic implications of IUU on the development of Africa’s Blue Economy. The article found that despite the existence of robust legal and policy instruments, enforcement across African coastal states remains weak due to corruption and other challenges. It further demonstrates that IUU fishing has severe socio-economic consequences, including food insecurity, loss of government revenue, marginalisation of artisanal fishers, ecological degradation, and the escalation of maritime insecurity. Drawing comparative insights from jurisdictions such as the European Union, Indonesia, the Pacific Island States, and China, the article identified best practices capable of strengthening Africa’s fisheries governance regime. It concludes that the future of Africa’s Blue Economy depends largely on the continent’s ability to transform legal norms into effective enforcement mechanisms.