Libreville, Gabon — Gabon has entered a strategic partnership with Global Fishing Watch (GFW), a leading nonprofit that uses satellite technology to track global fishing activities. The move is designed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in June 2025, outlines a collaborative framework between Gabon’s Ministry of the Sea, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Global Fishing Watch, and its partner organization Trygg Mat Tracking. The agreement will significantly boost Gabon’s Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) efforts by leveraging cutting-edge vessel tracking technologies and data-sharing tools.
“Gabon has chosen transparency, control, and compliance with international standards,” said Laurence Mengue‑Me‑Nzoghe Ndong, Gabon’s Minister of the Sea. “This partnership will enable us to better monitor and manage both industrial and artisanal fishing sectors, ensuring the sustainability of our marine resources.”
A major highlight of the partnership is the integration of tracking devices on Gabon’s artisanal fishing vessels. So far, over 300 of an expected 1,000 traditional canoes have been equipped with monitoring devices. These trackers will generate vital data to inform fisheries policy, enforcement strategies, and marine conservation planning.
In addition to supporting artisanal fisheries, the collaboration will enhance Gabon’s domain awareness through the application of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), which improve ship identification, maritime coordination, and emergency response.
Dame Mboup, Global Fishing Watch’s Africa Manager, praised Gabon’s commitment to ocean transparency. “By formalizing this agreement, Gabon is reinforcing its leadership in regional fisheries governance. We’re putting data at the heart of decision-making and creating a model that other countries can follow,” she said.
This partnership reflects Gabon’s growing reputation as a regional leader in marine conservation and fisheries management. The country has been a pioneer in protecting ocean biodiversity and was among the first in Africa to adopt satellite-based monitoring of its waters.
By embracing transparency and innovation, Gabon is not only securing its own maritime resources but also setting a precedent for collaborative ocean governance across West and Central Africa.
ADF
