Unsustainable exploitation of marine resources in Africa’s oceans is occurring on a massive scale. We are witnessing collapsed fisheries, the loss of critical ecosystems and the extinction of marine wildlife. A large part of the problem is with unreported and illegal fishing by foreign fishing companies. It has been estimated that the market value of fish caught illegally in Africa by commercial fishing companies could be as much as 1 billion every year. Due to this gross over fishing, small scale fishing is under severe strain. The economic and social consequences for coastal communities is a major concern throughout the continent. African countries find it difficult to respond to this crisis. Lack of capacity is often cited as a serious challenge. However, in addition to this, it is clear that many African governments do not have the necessary political and economical will. This is a situation exacerbated by forms of corruption and conflicts of interest. Indeed, the governance of marine resources in many African countries is severely undermined by a lack of transparency and accountability.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:26:02 +0000