The 11th Our Ocean Conference, held in Mombasa, Kenya, concluded on Thursday with a call for African countries to accelerate fisheries transparency reforms as part of efforts to strengthen ocean governance, combat illegal fishing and protect the livelihoods of millions in coastal communities.

Held in Africa for the first time, the gathering provided a platform for governments, conservation groups and maritime stakeholders to highlight the growing role of transparency, technology and international cooperation in safeguarding marine resources.

Participants applauded countries such as Ghana and Cameroon for embedding transparency and accountability measures into national and regional fisheries policies.

These efforts are helping African governments translate commitments into concrete actions aimed at tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing while improving enforcement and promoting sustainable fisheries management.

"What we've seen in Mombasa is clear evidence that ocean transparency is becoming a global expectation," said Tony Long, Chief Executive Officer of Global Fishing Watch.

"From new government commitments and partnerships to advances in technology and data, momentum is building around a simple principle: we cannot sustainably manage what we cannot see. The challenge now is to turn that momentum into lasting action and make transparency the standard for every fishery, every vessel and every ocean around the world."

Technology driving transparency

A key focus of the conference was the growing use of technology to improve the visibility of fishing activities at sea.

Global Fishing Watch showcased new research using artificial intelligence and high-resolution satellite imagery to reveal small-scale fishing activities that have traditionally remained beyond the reach of conventional monitoring systems.

Presenting the findings, Chief Scientist David Kroodsma said the analysis identified more than 30,000 small-scale fishing vessels operating along Africa's coastline and highlighted areas where industrial and artisanal fisheries compete for the same resources.

Stakeholders said the data provides governments with valuable insights to support fisheries management, strengthen ocean governance, and safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities.

"For the first time, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence are giving us an unprecedented view of small-scale fishing activity across African waters, revealing the people, places, and pressures that have long remained hidden," Kroodsma said.

"This is about more than technology. It is about empowering governments and communities with the information they need to make better decisions for the future of the ocean," he added.

From innovation to policy action

Beyond technological innovation, the conference underscored the growing importance of policy reforms, enforcement mechanisms and international partnerships in advancing fisheries transparency.

Global Fishing Watch joined partners in the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency to showcase Africa's growing leadership in promoting accountability at sea.

Participating governments endorsed the Mombasa Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to transparency, accountability and cooperation in protecting marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable fisheries.

"The message coming out of Mombasa is clear," Long said. "The future of sustainable fisheries depends on making activities at sea visible and verifiable, and on holding fishers fully accountable."

A major outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Mombasa Declaration, an international call to action on fisheries transparency endorsed by 16 governments from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.

The declaration commits signatories to improving public access to information on vessel ownership, licensing and fishing activities. It also seeks to strengthen global efforts to combat illegal fishing and promote more equitable and sustainable management of marine resources.

"From new transparency commitments on vessel tracking to deeper partnerships with governments in Africa and around the world, we're seeing growing recognition that sustainable fisheries begin with knowing who is fishing, where they are operating, and whether they are following the rules," Long added.

New commitments from Panama and Madagascar

Among the major announcements made at the conference was Panama's commitment to publicly share vessel monitoring system data from nearly 200 domestic fishing vessels through the Global Fishing Watch platform.

The move is expected to significantly increase the transparency and visibility of fishing activity in Panama's waters.

Global Fishing Watch's Head of Latin America, Mónica Espinoza Miralles, described the decision as a significant milestone in Panama's evolution into a leading advocate for fisheries transparency and accountability.

The announcement builds on a partnership launched in 2019 when Panama began publicly sharing tracking data from its international fishing fleet.

According to Espinoza Miralles, the country's commitment demonstrates how political will, technology**, and** open data can strengthen fisheries governance and sustainable ocean management.

Meanwhile, Madagascar's Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy announced plans to expand its partnership with Global Fishing Watch.

The initiative will focus on vessel tracking, joint research, capacity building and enhanced monitoring, control and surveillance operations, placing transparency at the center of the country's fisheries management strategy.

Building the world's most comprehensive fishing map

Conference participants also unveiled a new collaboration aimed at creating the first global map of fishing activity that includes both industrial fleets and small-scale fishing vessels.

The initiative will combine vessel-tracking data with advanced satellite imagery and analytics to map millions of artisanal fishing boats that are largely absent from existing datasets.

Scheduled for launch on July 1, 2026, the project is expected to provide governments and fisheries managers with a more complete understanding of human activity at sea.

Stakeholders say the enhanced visibility will support efforts to combat overfishing, improve fisheries management, and ensure the long-term sustainability of marine resources worldwide.