Rethinking fisheries governance in Africa

Party to the plunder: Fishmeal industries and depleting fisheries in Africa

In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore the theme, “Party to the Plunder: Fishmeal Industries and Depleting Fisheries in Africa,” with Viviane Koutob, Programme Lead for West and Central Africa at Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT). Together, we examine the expansion of fishmeal and fish oil industries across Africa and their implications for fisheries sustainability, food security, and coastal livelihoods. The conversation explores how these industries contribute to the depletion of small pelagic fish stocks, the governance challenges surrounding their operations, and what African governments, industry actors, and other stakeholders can do differently to promote more sustainable and equitable fisheries management. A special thank you to Viviane Koutob for sharing her time, expertise, and valuable insights on this critical issue affecting communities across the continent. Listeners interested in learning more about the wider implications of the fishmeal and fish oil trade may find this Greenpeace Africa and Changing Markets research useful: “Feeding a Monster: How European aquaculture and animal feed industries are stealing food from West African communities.” The report examines links between the fishmeal industry, food security, and livelihoods in West Africa. https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/13778/major-european-companies-linked-to-food-insecurity-in-west-africa/ Tune in for an important conversation on accountability, sustainability, and the future of Africa’s fisheries.

Rethinking fisheries governance in Africa

In this episode of #AfriCanGeopardy 🎙️, we discuss “Rethinking Fisheries Governance in Africa” with Dr Pieter van Welzen. Dr van Welzen is a Dutch and English-qualified lawyer and Senior Consultant at CMS South Africa, following a legal career in Amsterdam and London with Clifford Chance and Freshfields. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Hamburg in 2024, with a dissertation titled “IUU Fishing and the Obligations of Vessel Owner States: A West African Perspective.” His work focuses on public international law and the law of the sea, particularly fisheries governance. He is also a member of the International Law Association’s Committee on the Protection of Persons at Sea, with a focus on the rights and safety of fishers, and he regularly advises and publishes on fisheries law. We discuss unsustainable fishing in Africa 🎣, governance challenges facing coastal states, the growing role of external actors in fisheries management, and the case for stronger African-led fisheries diplomacy grounded in regional cooperation and legal reform. We also briefly explore what can go wrong when states neglect the role of fishers in governance, drawing on illustrative examples from the Netherlands 🇳🇱. The conversation draws on Dr van Welzen’s research on IUU fishing and state obligations under international law, with a particular focus on West Africa, alongside reflections from the Pacific experience. There is a lot to unpack, including practical steps for policymakers and partners. Many thanks to Dr Pieter van Welzen for joining us and sharing his expertise.

“From Partners to Pawns? How Global Migration Policy Undermines African Political Agency,”

This month on African Geopardy, we discussed a pressing and often uncomfortable question: who really defines the agenda of global migration policy? In this episode, “From Partners to Pawns? How Global Migration Policy Undermines African Political Agency,” I’m joined by Dr Margaret Monyani, Executive Director of the OLAM Africa Research Institute. Together, we examine Africa’s place within an increasingly politicised migration landscape shaped by security concerns, economic interests, and climate pressures. Our conversation interrogates the evolving Africa–EU relationship, asking whether African states are genuinely participating as agenda setters or being positioned as gatekeepers along migration routes—tasked with interception rather than influence. We explore how and when African actors are brought into policy discussions, and how that timing often determines whether they shape outcomes or simply implement them. We also reflect on where the continent is asserting agency, where progress is being made, and where alternative approaches are urgently needed. At its core, this episode challenges the subtle but significant imbalances embedded in migration governance—and what it will take to move from participation to power. Many thanks to Dr Monyani for such a thoughtful and engaging discussion.

Quantifying Africa’s Oceans: Ubuntu Mathematics, Ancestral Intelligence, and the Sovereign Ledger

In this episode, we explore “Quantifying Africa’s Oceans: Ubuntu Mathematics, Ancestral Intelligence, and the Sovereign Ledger of Maritime Wealth.” Simone Melrino Smith-Godfrey, Founder and CEO of the Centre for Applied Maritime Studies (CAMS), unveils an innovative framework to help Africa value its oceans differently. In this conversation, she breaks down Ubuntu Mathematics, reframes the ocean as a sovereign ledger of maritime wealth, and illustrates how blending ancestral knowledge with modern verification and accountability systems can transform ocean governance. This episode introduces groundbreaking ideas that drive innovation in maritime valuation, empower resource governance, and promote economic sovereignty. We discuss how greater African ownership of ocean resources can shape the future of the Blue Economy. 🌍🌊

Decarbonising Shipping: Risk, Power and Opportunity for Africa

This episode of AfriCan Geopardy examines how the global push to decarbonise shipping could reshape Africa’s trade, ports, and maritime power. Featuring Ms. Ogbugo, a maritime infrastructure and decarbonisation expert, the conversation explores whether the shipping energy transition could reinforce global inequalities—or become a strategic growth opportunity for Africa. We unpack how the IMO Net Zero framework may influence shipping costs, trade competitiveness, and port investment, and who truly holds influence over global maritime climate policy. The episode also explores whether market-based measures such as carbon pricing and fuel levies could unlock new financing for African green ports, clean fuels, and maritime skills development. A sharp, forward-looking discussion on risk, power, policy, and opportunity in Africa’s path toward net-zero shipping. Thanks, Ms Ogbugo for sharing your time and expertise with us. #DecarbonisingShipping #NetZeroShipping #MaritimeDecarbonisation #IMO #EnergyTransition #SustainableShipping #AfricanTrade