Progress made in programme to track authorised fishing vessels

Sensitisation workshop brings stakeholders together

NIGERIA: Working to progress efforts to track authorised fishing vessels operating in West Africa, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) convened a workshop on the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels (RRAFV) in Lagos, Nigeria last week.

The establishment of the RRAFV is seen as a key regional measure to support stronger oversight of vessels authorised to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC Member States.

Hosted in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Department of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), the workshop brought together vessel owners and operators, representatives of the Nigerian Navy, the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, FCWC, the Regional MCS Centre Trygg Matt Tracking and other key stakeholders to build awareness and understanding of the RRAFV, its purpose and the approach for its implementation in Nigeria.

In his opening speech, Nigeria’s Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Wellington Omoragbon, noted that Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to threaten fish stocks, government revenues, legitimate operators, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Nigeria has been selected as the first pilot country for the initiative, providing an important opportunity to test and refine the system before wider implementation across the FCWC region. Preparatory work is already underway, including analysis of vessels licensed to fish in Nigerian waters in 2026.

The sensitisation workshop provided a platform to present the regional and national background of the RRAFV, explain its objectives and expected benefits and clarify the practical implications for vessel operators. Participants were also introduced to the proposed vessel registration process, requirements, timelines, and supporting materials being developed to facilitate compliance.

Prioritising stakeholder engagement

Successful implementation of the RRAFV depends on ensuring that vessel operators and relevant institutions clearly understand the system, its requirements, and the benefits it offers for fisheries governance, monitoring, and transparency. The workshop served as an opportunity to address questions, clarify expectations and gather feedback to refine the implementation process and tools.

The RRAFV is expected to support improved access to reliable vessel information, strengthen national and regional monitoring systems and contribute to more transparent fisheries operations. For vessel operators, the pilot phase will provide advance guidance on registration requirements and the timelines that will apply as the system becomes operational.

Pilot programme

By hosting the first pilot phase, Nigeria is playing a leading role in advancing regional cooperation and practical implementation of fisheries transparency measures. Vessel registration is due to begin in 2027.

Industrial fishing vessels operating in Nigeria will be included at no fee through the end of 2028. A five per cent levy on the national authorisation fee will support the operations of the Regional MCS Centre through a dedicated platform.

The experience gained through this process will provide valuable lessons for other FCWC Member States and contribute to a stronger, more coordinated regional approach to sustainable fisheries governance.

Through this initiative, the FCWC continues to support its Member States in building effective systems that promote legal fishing operations, strengthen compliance, and safeguard the marine resources that are vital to food security, livelihoods, and economic development across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.

Omoragbon has welcomed Nigeria’s role as the first pilot country for the initiative, describing it as a reflection of the country’s leadership and commitment to responsible fisheries management.

He encouraged vessel owners, operators, industry associations, regulators, and other stakeholders to actively support the implementation process by ensuring that vessel information is accurate, verified, and useful for decision making.

Speaking at the workshop, Gareth Johnstone the Executive Director of Trygg Mat Tracking recognised Nigeria’s important role in testing and refining the Regional Record as it moves toward implementation.

He also highlighted the importance of reliable vessel information in strengthening fisheries governance across the FCWC region, emphasising that it would become a practical tool to improve oversight, support better decision-making, enhance cooperation among countries within the fishing industry.