Fish is becoming increasingly scarce on African tables, even though African waters continue to supply international markets. As the EU is about to reveal its future strategy for external fisheries act...

The Commission is preparing a set of guidelines for an harmonised approach to ensure EU funded activities do not undermine EU environmental objectives. For fisheries, this should not result in weaker ...

Small-Scale fisheries make up to 50% of tuna catches the Indian Ocean, raising important questions about representation, access allocation in the Indian Ocean.

This article examines the contrasting positions of sector stakeholders, who favour targeted reforms of the CFP and the simplification of existing rules, and NGOs, which call for the strict enforcement...

Citing evidence that maritime spatial planning has often sidelined fisheries interests, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for stronger protection of fishing activities.

This article examines the contrasting positions of sector stakeholders, who favour targeted reforms of the CFP and the simplification of existing rules, and NGOs, which call for the strict enforcement...

Senegal has granted four new coastal demersal fishing licenses. Although the government says the decision is based on scientific assessments, it is being challenged by fishing industry stakeholders an...

A recent EU resolution on ocean diplomacy reflects a delicate balance between sustainability and strategic interests. It strongly recognises small-scale fisheries, but its credibility will depend on c...

A new study warns that a potential EU ban on Senegalese fish exports over IUU fishing concerns could seriously harm artisanal fishing communities. Although not responsible for governance shortcomings,...

Ivory Coast’s mangroves are rapidly declining due to urbanisation, illegal land reclamation, deforestation, and pollution. This degradation intensifies coastal erosion, endangers local communities, an...

A new assessment finds limited implementation of beneficial ownership transparency commitments across OACPS countries, with weak legal frameworks. However, there are clear opportunities to accelerate ...

At the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, ministers reaffirmed commitment to continue negotiations on harmful fisheries subsidies. While the 2025 Fish 1 agreement marked progress, major con...

Although the EU-Mauritius SFPA generates measurable macroeconomic gains, these benefits remain largely invisible to small-scale fishers. The authors highlight weak transparency, limited coastal develo...

The European Union is drafting an Ocean Act aimed at improving the coherence of its maritime policies. This initiative could better integrate small-scale fisheries, protect marine ecosystems and suppo...

Guinea-Bissau has prohibited the production of fishmeal and fish oil. The objective is to safeguard national food security, preserve marine ecosystems, and protect coastal livelihoods, while supportin...

The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has updated its standard to broaden the scope of transparency in the sector. Version 2.0 focuses on defining small-scale fisheries at the national level, p...

The BBNJ Agreement reshapes the governance of fisheries without imposing direct regulations: high seas MPAs could displace fishing effort into African EEZs, potentially increasing competition to acces...

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and Mauritania is an opportunity to implement the “new generation” of agreements announced by the Commission, which should focus o...

Francisco Mari, advocacy officer for global food security, agricultural trade and maritime policy at Bread for the World , reviews the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies; following its recent entry...

When harmonising regional closed seasons in SRFC and FCWC regions, CFFA calls for considering social and environmental perspectives and ensuring the participation of affected communities.

Small-scale fishing communities depend on the coast and inshore waters for their livelihoods. Many African countries now recognise small-scale fisheries’ role in achieving climate and biodiversity goa...

In mid-September, a factory ship flying the Gambian flag and owned by a Maltese company collided with and sank a trawler flying the Mauritanian flag and owned by a Spanish company. Five Mauritanian se...

In de strijd tegen overbevissing op zee lijkt de snelle groei van de kweekvissector goed nieuws. Maar in de Nederlandse supermarktschappen ligt kweekvis die met Senegalese sardines gevoerd is. Dat dra...

Dormant SFPAs should not simply be considered as a pause. Since the framework agreements are still in place, they should be utilised for dialogue on science and sustainable fisheries between the two p...

CFFA urges the EU to align its 2028–2034 budget with its commitments to sustainable development and ocean governance. Support for African small-scale fisheries must be anchored in transparency and bas...

In this article, CFFA highlights the Indian Ocean archipelago’s small-scale sector’s concerns and demands in light of the ongoing negotiations for the new EU-Sechelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnershi...

The Indian Ocean archipelago’s ageing population of small-scale fishers strives to bring generational renewal to fisheries by sensitizing school kids on the profession and training young women to re-s...

In this position paper, CFFA contributes to the Commission open consultation on an EU strategy for fisheries external action. In it, CFFA calls for a strategy that looks into policy coherence for deve...

At the occasion of the 20th session of the FAO subcommittee on trade, more than 16 CSOs and small-scale fisheries organisations, the signatories ask that FAO and its members adopt “blue food systems” ...

Encouraging the reform and enlargement of the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) in Liberia would reinforce the EU leadership on responsible fisheries governance and build on recent regional trends, such as...

Ten years on, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has empowered African small-scale fishers by promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive policymaking. It strengthens visibility, s...