Eight African nations – the majority of them surrounding the Gulf of Guinea – have pledged to sustainably manage 100% of the ocean areas under their national jurisdiction and commit to tackling Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing (IUU) and strengthen maritime security.

Adopting what has become known as the Yaoundé Declaration, these eight countries – which includes Angola, Benin, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea – have each pledged to develop and implement Sustainable Ocean Plans to guide the sustainable use, protection, and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems over the rest of this decade.

By 2030, each of the eight nations has committed to sustainably manage 100% of their regional ocean, face IUU, and strengthen marine security. Joined by the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Nigeria the eight made the commitment at the International Conference on the Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The need to tackle such threats is urgent. According to Dryad Global, piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea surged some 30% in 2025, underlining the region’s persistent challenges with security. On May 3oth this year, a cargo vessel Orange Frost was boarded by armed attackers near São Tomé and Principe.

From an environmental perspective, a paper published in the scientific journal Nature last year concluded the Gulf of Guinea is “highly vulnerable to sea level rise”, with projections indicating a “significant increase” in permanently inundated land by the year 2100. Co-authored by researchers from the University of Cape Town, the study – a climate change model – found that under high-emissions scenarios, up to 95% of the Gulf’s coastal areas could be inundated by the end of the century, potentially displacing two million people.

Given the region’s heavy reliance on fisheries, the loss of cultural heritage and livelihoods have been projected to only further compound the challenges.

“The Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems – a lifeline for millions who rely on it for food and jobs. But it’s under siege from climate change, pollution, and overfishing,” said Cynthia Barzuna, deputy director of the World Resource Institute’s Ocean Programme. 

“The Sustainable Ocean Plans these countries will develop offer a clear, actionable blueprint to manage 100% of their waters, balancing protection, prosperity, and resilience.”

Ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in early June, Cameroon took a major step toward ocean protection by signing the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement). This agreement aims to establish a global, legally binding framework for the preservation of biodiversity in the high seas.

With 500km of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon is home to some remarkable marine biodiversity, including more than 500 species of fish, marine mammals, and plankton-rich ecosystems. However, these vital resources – like those across the Gulf of Guinea and into the wider Atlantic Ocean – are under threat from industrial exploitation, pollution, and the effects of climate change. 

The move to sign the agreement was applauded at the time by Greenpeace Africa which has continued to urge Cameroonian authorities to “turn this signature into concrete action” and strengthen conservation mechanisms, monitor marine activities, and honour their international commitments. 

Wanjira Mathai, director of World Resource Institute Africa, said: “The ocean is one interconnected system that spans beyond national borders, and governments must manage it that way. The Yaoundé Declaration is a powerful signal of regional leadership, showing that countries across the Gulf of Guinea are not just willing, but determined to build a sustainable, inclusive blue economy together.”

Mathai is of the belief that with the Our Ocean Conference coming to Kenya next year, the commitment made by each of the eight African nations has set a “new tone” for African leadership on the global stage. 

“Transboundary cooperation like this also help[s shift African wisdom, solutions, and priorities to the forefront, steering ambitious, homegrown answers to ocean challenges,” said Mathai. 

Barzuna has said that the commitment positions the Gulf of Guinea as a “driving force in a global wave for ocean sustainability.” 

“It directly aligns with the goal of Ocean Panel, a coalition of 18 countries working towards 100% sustainable management of national waters,” she said. “The Panel pioneered the concept of Sustainable Ocean Plans and, through the 100% Alliance, is urging all coastal and ocean stated to follow suit.”

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