For the first time in Africa, a Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels (RRAFV) is being piloted, designed to operate as a live, functional system integrated with verification procedures and regional monitoring tools.
While still in its early stages, the RRAFV marks a significant milestone for fisheries governance in Africa, shifting from commitment to implementation and from concept to operational regional cooperation.
This pilot is being launched by the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) with funding from the Norwegian Government and technical support from TMT and Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF). As a long-standing technical partner supporting the FCWC’s vision for a regional record, TMT has worked alongside Member States to help translate that ambition into an operational framework aligned with the FCWC Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).
‘By launching the first pilot in Nigeria, the FCWC and its partners TMT and SIF are demonstrating how collective commitments can translate into practical systems that strengthen MCS, fisheries management, and build trust among Member States,’ said TMT executive director Gareth Johnstone, commenting that if successfully implemented across the region, the RRAFV will help ensure that only authorised vessels operate in shared waters, reducing space for IUU fishing and strengthening deterrence.
Greater transparency also creates clearer signals for compliant operators, helping reward responsible behaviour and supporting more stable, predictable economic conditions in the sector. A shared regional mechanism designed to register, maintain a record and verify all vessels operating in Member States’ waters, the initiative represents a critical step toward strengthening fisheries’ governance in the region.
‘The FCWC is proud to initiate and support Nigeria in the piloting of the RRAFV,’ said FCWC Secretary-General Dr Antoine Gaston Djihinto.
‘Nigeria’s commitment reflects the region’s ambition for better transparency and compliance, most especially now that we need to ensure the management of our resources guarantees sustained economic growth and revenues to our populations and, more broadly, a thriving blue economy in the region.’
Nigeria has stepped forward to be the first pilot country to test and validate the RRAFV framework before full regional roll-out. The pilot will test the operational framework, data requirements, and verification procedures that will underpin the long-term management of the Regional Record. It will help identify practical challenges and gaps, particularly in relation to data collection, submission, verification, and integration with the FCWC VMS.
After the pilot phase, an evaluation will be presented to the FCWC Task Force and the Conference of Ministers for endorsement. The RRAFV system will ultimately be hosted by the FCWC, with access granted to all Member States.
