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22 African coastal nations move to strengthen marine wildlife trade regulations – EnviroNews
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Fisheries and wildlife trade authorities from 22 African coastal countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in regulating international trade in marine species, as growing commercial exploitation raises concerns over biodiversity conservation, food security and the sustainability of Africa’s fisheries sector.
The commitment followed a regional workshop jointly organised by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2026, the workshop focused on integrating CITES requirements into national fisheries legislation and improving coordination between fisheries administrations and wildlife trade regulators.
The initiative comes as African countries collectively produce more than seven million tonnes of aquatic animals annually through marine capture fisheries, making effective regulation critical to protecting livelihoods, national economies and marine ecosystems.
Opening the workshop, CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, stressed the importance of adapting international wildlife trade regulations to the realities of Africa’s fisheries sector.
“Fisheries and aquatic resources are fundamental to food security, livelihoods and economies across Africa. CITES has brought the knowledge and tools it has developed over the years to support African nations to conduct lawful and productive management of the fisheries sector,” Higuero said.
She said the discussions were expected to address legal and administrative challenges affecting the implementation of international wildlife trade regulations.
“Participants of the workshop are expected to extensively dwell on key legal and administrative issues that would help to advance our collective interest, which is a world where all international wildlife trade is sustainable and legal,” she added.
More Than 2,000 Marine Species Under CITES Protection
According to the organisers, more than 2,000 marine species, including sharks, rays, sea cucumbers and corals, are currently listed under the CITES Appendices.
The growing number of listed species reflects increasing pressure on marine biodiversity and greater recognition among governments of the need to regulate international wildlife trade.
However, implementing CITES requirements presents challenges for national fisheries authorities, particularly where existing legislation and administrative systems are not adequately aligned with international obligations.
These requirements include Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs), scientific assessments used to establish whether international trade would threaten the survival of a species.
They also include Legal Acquisition Findings (LAF), which establish whether specimens were obtained in accordance with applicable laws, and provisions governing Introduction from the Sea (IFS), concerning specimens taken from marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Through their partnership, FAO and CITES are supporting countries in understanding how these obligations interact with national fisheries legislation, institutions and fisheries-management systems.
Regional Cooperation Critical to Food Security
FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and acting Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Farayi Zimudzi, said closer collaboration between fisheries and CITES authorities would help countries address emerging challenges, including food insecurity.
“The diversity of expertise represented here is one of the workshop’s greatest strengths. Bringing together CITES Management Authorities and national fisheries authorities offers a valuable opportunity for dialogue, mutual learning, and the development of practical solutions that are nationally relevant and regionally coherent,” Zimudzi said.
She added that sharing experiences in fisheries management, wildlife trade regulation and marine conservation would strengthen countries’ ability to respond to common challenges.
During the workshop, country representatives presented their existing legal and institutional arrangements, shared good practices and identified obstacles affecting the implementation of CITES regulations.
Discussions focused on regulating trade in listed marine species, improving coordination between national authorities, strengthening traceability systems and monitoring commercially exploited species such as sharks and rays.
Participants also examined how national fisheries legislation could better accommodate international wildlife trade requirements.
Using Fisheries Data to Improve Trade Monitoring
The workshop introduced participants to the recently launched FAO Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS), highlighting how fisheries information can support the implementation of CITES obligations.
Through practical exercises, participants explored how licensing records, catch documentation, monitoring, control and surveillance systems, and fisheries-management measures could provide information needed to regulate international trade in marine species.
Regional organisations also demonstrated how cross-border cooperation could strengthen conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
Representatives of the Regional Fishery Bodies Secretariats’ Network, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Subregional Fisheries Commission highlighted their roles in scientific data collection, conservation measures, information exchange and regional coordination.
Participants concluded that sustained cooperation between fisheries administrations and CITES Management and Scientific Authorities would be essential to ensuring that national fisheries laws and international wildlife trade regulations are effectively implemented.
The FAO-CITES partnership is expected to support African coastal countries in strengthening legal and institutional coordination while balancing marine conservation with the economic and food security needs of communities that depend on fisheries.
By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief
