Five African nations commit to expanding electronic monitoring at Our Oceans Conference
At the 11th Our Oceans Conference, held June 16 – 18, 2026 in Mombasa Kenya, five African nations announced new national commitments to expand electronic monitoring. Tanzania, South Africa, Gabon, Kenya, and the Seychelles are advancing actions to strengthen greater transparency and reducing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Tanzania and South Africa are both working on piloting and scaling electronic monitoring systems for tuna fisheries. Kenya has committed to achieving 100% monitoring (electronic and onboard) of all industrial fishing vessels in its waters by 2030. Seychelles has joined the Tuna Transparency Pledge, a global initiative aimed at achieving 100% on-the-water monitoring on all industrial tuna vessels by 2027. Finally, Gabon plans to implement electronic monitoring across its industrial fleet by 2028. Gabon’s commitment to electronic monitoring is a key component of its Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation project. The nation’s advancement towards its electronic monitoring efforts is taking place alongside a comprehensive marine spatial planning (MSP) process currently underway in the country. Similarly, Seychelles’ commitment follows the country’s completion of its MSP, which was signed into law in 2025.
“This is the kind of decisive leadership the global community has been calling for—countries stepping forward not just with ambition, but with clear, time-bound commitments to transparency and accountability at sea.”
Ben Gilmer, Director of Large-Scale Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy
These commitments build important momentum, both nationally and globally, towards improved, science-based fisheries management. Read the full announcement here.
(Photo credit: Jason Houston/TNC)