Illegal Fishing In Nigeria’s Waters: The Legal Framework, The Enforcement Gaps, And What Must Change

• Published date: 20 July 2026
• Subject Matter: Government, Public Sector, International Law, Criminal Law, Terrorism, Homeland Security & Defence, International Trade & Investment, White Collar Crime, Anti-Corruption & Fraud
• Law Firm: Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)
• Author: -1 Abiola Mohammed

For most of the past decade, the Gulf of Guinea was regarded as one of the most dangerous maritime regions in the world. The region became synonymous with piracy, armed robbery at sea, vessel hijackings and the kidnapping of seafarers for ransom. Between 2010 and 2021, attacks on commercial shipping, offshore installations and energy infrastructure generated significant concern among coastal states, ship-owners and the international community. Incidents such as the attacks on the Curacao Trader in 2020 and the MV Mozart in 2021 underscored both the sophistication of pirate networks and the vulnerability of maritime trade routes within the region. — concerns that now extend to the growing challenge of illegal fishing in Nigeria's waters and across the Gulf of Guinea ¹

The response to this growing insecurity was equally significant. Coastal states, supported by regional and international partners, strengthened naval patrols, enhanced maritime domain awareness, improved information-sharing mechanisms and operationalised the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security Cooperation. Nigeria further reinforced its legal framework through the enactment of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act 2019.² The combined effect of these initiatives has been measurable. According to the International Maritime Bureau, incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea have declined considerably from the levels recorded between 2018 and 2021.³

While this decline is encouraging, it does not necessarily indicate a reduction in maritime insecurity. Rather, it reflects a transformation in the nature of maritime threats. As piracy became increasingly risky and less profitable due to improved enforcement, criminal activity appears to have shifted towards less visible but highly lucrative forms of maritime exploitation. One of the most significant manifestations of this shift is the rise of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.⁴

IUU fishing encompasses fishing activities conducted in violation of national fisheries laws, regional conservation measures and international regulatory frameworks. It includes unauthorised fishing within a coastal state's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), inaccurate or absent catch reporting, and fishing operations that fall outside effective regulatory oversight. Internationally, the principal legal instruments addressing IUU fishing include the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the...