South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum

Civil society groups from South West Indian Ocean countries are calling on governments to take stronger action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, warning that it’s threatening the region’s blue economy. Doreen Nasimiyu Simiyu, Coordinator of the South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum (SWIOTUNA), said implementing existing fishing policies will not only protect marine resources but also uplift coastal communities that depend on the sector. “We are lobbying our governments to implement specific policies that will curb IUU fishing. This is one of the biggest challenges preventing our countries from fully benefiting from a sustainable blue economy,” said Simiyu during a regional workshop in Mombasa. She explained that combating illegal fishing requires coordinated measures such as vessel tracking, port state controls, and international cooperation to ensure transparency and accountability across the supply chain. WWF Coastal Kenya Manager Asma Awadh noted that a four-year program has helped build technical and legal capacity among local civil society organizations on fisheries governance. However, she said more funding and coordination are needed for the blue economy to reach its full potential. “The blue economy remains vast and costly. One program alone cannot address all the challenges, and more investment is needed to help local communities benefit meaningfully,” said Awadh. Photo: Harrison Kivisu (TUKO)