The European Union-funded West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) has successfully conducted its first regional joint fisheries surveillance patrol to strengthen regional fisheries governance and coordinate efforts against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

 

Organised by the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) the patrol occurred from 6 to 12 April 2026, covering the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia.

 

The patrol demonstrates the commitment of the three Member States towards safeguarding marine ecosystems, food security, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

 

Objectives of the Operation

The patrol aimed to:

· Strengthen operational cooperation between national surveillance services

· Coordinate the use of naval, aerial, and electronic monitoring resources

· Intercept and inspect vessels and artisanal canoes suspected of violating fisheries regulations

 

Summary of Results

The operation yielded significant insights into fleet composition, compliance levels, and enforcement outcomes across the patrol area.

· A total of 89 vessels were identified, including reefers, trawlers, artisanal canoes, and cargo vessels, indicating high maritime activity within the Area of Operations.

· Intelligence-led inspections resulted in the boarding of four vessels, with one artisanal fishing canoe and two artisanal supply canoes found in violation, apprehended, and handed over to their respective national authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.

· A wide range of vessels was encountered, with violations primarily linked to artisanal fishing vessels and certain artisanal supply canoes, highlighting higher compliance risks within these categories.

· The majority of vessels observed, particularly during the JACOUBET patrol, were compliant with applicable regulations.

 

These results reflect active maritime domain awareness across multiple patrol units, with a broad range of vessel types monitored and a small proportion found in violation, indicating generally good compliance within the area of operations.

 

The results also highlight the effectiveness of a coordinated surveillance approach, leveraging real-time information sharing and advanced technological tools such as satellite tracking and vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

 

Strengthening Regional Capacities

Prior to the operation, targeted training sessions were conducted for legal officers, inspectors, and technical personnel from national Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) centers. These sessions covered:

· Harmonized at-sea inspection procedures

· Data collection and regional information sharing

· Use of electronic monitoring and surveillance tools

 

Partnership Reinforcement

The operation strengthened collaboration within the Yaoundé Architecture and among key regional and international partners, including:

· European Union Delegation in Ghana

· European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)

· Regional Maritime Safety Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO)

· Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre – Zone F (CMMC Zone F)

· Interregional Maritime Security Institute (ISMI)

· Maritime authorities of the participating Member States

· The French Navy and national navies of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia

 

Outlook

The FCWC welcomes the success of this first regional joint patrol, which represents a major milestone toward establishing a sustainable and coordinated regional fisheries control mechanism. Lessons learned from this operation will help optimize future missions and further strengthen collective efforts against IUU fishing in the Central-West Gulf of Guinea.

A second regional joint patrol is already being considered, potentially involving Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, to further expand regional coordination efforts.