Nigeria will leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strengthen marine resource management.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, in Abuja.
This was stated in a Sunday release in Lagos by the Minister’s Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola.
Oyetola and Mignot reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation on maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.
The minister commended the European Union for its longstanding support for maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea, a region vital to global shipping and regional economic development.
Oyetola described WASOP as a timely opportunity to enhance efforts against illegal fishing, improve ocean governance, and promote sustainable resource use.
He expressed Nigeria’s eagerness to fully engage with the programme to attract technical and financial support, which would boost enforcement capacity and advance the country’s blue economy goals.
The minister identified illegal fishing as a major threat to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
He warned that IUU fishing depletes fish stocks, undermines food security, and weakens coastal economies.
“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing poses a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty, and the survival of our coastal communities,” Oyetola stated.
He emphasized the need for stronger international collaboration, robust monitoring, and strict enforcement to dismantle illicit operations and protect Nigerian waters.
Oyetola also highlighted reforms under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which focus on innovation, private sector investment, and sustainable ocean resource development.
He pointed to improvements in port operations, logistics, and maritime security as key achievements, with Nigeria expanding maritime infrastructure and increasing its global trade competitiveness.
The minister called for broader cooperation beyond piracy control, urging development partners to support Nigeria in tackling environmental crimes, human trafficking, and illegal fishing through coordinated efforts.
He also requested increased EU technical assistance in surveillance, fisheries monitoring, and enforcement to better curb IUU fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.
Earlier, Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with Nigeria.
He described WASOP as a major EU-funded initiative promoting integrated ocean governance and sustainable fisheries management.
The ambassador added that the programme aims to improve coordination among West African coastal states, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and support a more inclusive blue economy.
