Nigeria plans to use a €59 million European Union-backed ocean governance programme to intensify efforts against illegal fishing and strengthen the management of marine resources, officials said.
The initiative, known as the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), is expected to support regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, improve maritime governance and promote sustainable use of ocean resources across West Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the programme offers a significant opportunity to strengthen enforcement capabilities and protect the country’s marine ecosystem.
Speaking during a meeting with European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja, Oyetola described illegal fishing as one of the most serious threats facing coastal communities and the maritime economy.
“Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty and the survival of our coastal communities,” Oyetola said.
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“We cannot afford to stand by and watch our marine ecosystems depleted and economic livelihoods eroded.”
He called for stronger international cooperation, enhanced surveillance systems and tougher enforcement measures to dismantle illegal fishing networks operating in Nigerian waters and across the Gulf of Guinea.
The minister noted that IUU fishing continues to deplete fish stocks, undermine food security and reduce income for legitimate fishing communities, while weakening broader economic development efforts linked to the maritime sector.
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Nigeria, which possesses one of Africa’s largest coastlines and maritime economies, has increasingly prioritised the development of its blue economy as part of efforts to diversify growth beyond oil.
Under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, authorities are pursuing reforms aimed at improving port efficiency, strengthening maritime security, expanding logistics infrastructure and promoting sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
Oyetola said the government was seeking additional technical and financial support through WASOP to improve fisheries monitoring, surveillance technology and enforcement capacity.
He added that stronger maritime governance would help Nigeria protect its territorial waters while boosting investor confidence in the sector.
The minister also urged development partners to broaden cooperation beyond anti-piracy operations to include environmental crimes, human trafficking and illegal fishing, which he said require coordinated regional responses.
The Gulf of Guinea remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, serving as a major route for global shipping and energy exports.
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While incidents of piracy have declined in recent years due to enhanced naval cooperation, concerns remain over illegal fishing and environmental degradation, which continue to threaten marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.
European Union Ambassador Gautier Mignot reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting maritime security and sustainable ocean management in the region.
He described WASOP as a key EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting integrated ocean governance, strengthening fisheries management and protecting coastal ecosystems.
According to Mignot, the programme will support greater coordination among West African coastal states, enhance enforcement mechanisms and encourage the growth of an inclusive and sustainable blue economy.
Analysts say illegal fishing costs West African countries hundreds of millions of dollars annually in lost revenue, while contributing to overfishing and declining fish stocks that threaten food security for millions of people.
With the launch of WASOP, Nigeria hopes to strengthen regional collaboration and improve its capacity to safeguard marine resources, while advancing broader economic goals tied to the sustainable development of its ocean economy.
