Some fifty experts from Member States and the ECOWAS Commission, as well as regional organisations dealing with environmental conservation and fisheries issues, are meeting from 18 to 21 March 2025 in Abidjan in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to discuss the issue of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa.
Ambassador Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, at the opening of the technical meeting of Member State Experts on the issue of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa, which got underway on Tuesday in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire stressed that unregulated and illegal fishing activities have cause the regional over two billion dollars annually.
‘Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains widespread in our region, causing an estimated loss of more than 2 billion dollars a year, which has a negative impact on the livelihoods and security of our countries," he said
A statement by ECOWAS Directorate of Communication in Abuja on Wednesday said that the meeting was officially launched by H.E. Mr Sidi Tiémoko Toure, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Resources of Côte d'Ivoire.