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Oceans and fisheries

Africa

The EU has a longstanding partnership with Africa on ocean issues. This cooperation contributes to the overarching objectives of the renewed EU-Africa partnership  and the EU international ocean governance agenda.

The EU-Africa cooperation originally focussed on fishing. But today the two continents also work together on ocean governance, the blue economy, maritime security, ocean science and digital ocean technologies.

In line with the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU is also committed to bridging ocean financing gaps. This goal is pursued through increased engagement with the private sector and fostering initiatives that connect African blue economy entrepreneurs and investors. By doing so, the EU cultivates a thriving blue economy that benefits both continents.

The European Ocean Pact,  adopted in June 2025, highlights Africa as a key partner in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable development of ocean-based activities. 

In November 2025,  at the 7th European Union-African Union Summit, leaders of both continents gathered in Luanda, Angola. They restated their commitment to strengthen their cooperation on ocean-related matters for a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa and Europe, enhanced security and stronger multilateralism.

Objectives

  • supporting the sustainable development of natural resources and promoting good governance practices
  • helping African countries meet international climate and ocean ambitions
  • supporting African countries in implementing ocean-related agreements like the High Seas Treaty
  • boosting scientific capabilities and fostering cooperation in ocean monitoring and forecasting
  • making sure there is enough food by developing sustainable and safe fishery and aquaculture sectors
  • creating business opportunities for people involved in the blue economy, in Africa and in Europe
  • improving maritime security along Africa’s coast.

Actions

Bilateral cooperation

The EU has signed sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) with several African countries. These agreements cover the West African coast and the Indian Ocean. They help to build scientific and fisheries surveillance capacities and support the development of blue economies at local level. To support their future improvement, an assessment has been carried out. The Commission will propose a new generation of SFPAs aligning with the EU’s wider regional strategies and priorities, notably in Africa. 

The EU has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) and is working with African countries, mainly on the West coast but also in the Indian Ocean. The EU also fights IUU fishing through cooperation with the European Fisheries Control Agency and the EU Naval Force in the Indian Ocean, with a particular focus on Somalia.

Cooperation at regional level

The EU is active in the regional fisheries management organisations off the coasts of Africa. These include the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO), the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), and on the other coast, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).

These organisations set conservation and management measures, improve monitoring and control of fisheries and support the scientific work to sustainably manage the region’s fish stocks. The EU dedicates funds to support African participation in RFMOs, ensuring the attendance of some African delegations to meetings of the Commissions or scientific committees. 

The EU also promotes the blue economy in the Mediterranean (WestMed Initiative) and the EU's outermost regions adjacent to the African continent. It cooperates with the Union for the Mediterranean through a dedicated working group on Sustainable Blue Economy, a Mediterranean blue economy stakeholder platform, the organisation of regular stakeholder events and the implementation of many projects. Furthermore the EU promotes a sustainable blue economy in the framework of the Pact for the Mediterranean that aims to strengthen EU relations with its southern partners.

The EU is working to improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, the Horn of Africa, and the Indian Ocean as well as supporting port security, safety and intra-Africa connectivity

The European Commission has committed €180 million to support regional ocean programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa and address four challenges: improving international ocean governance, promoting a sustainable and inclusive blue economy, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, and developing ocean science

Many EU-funded fisheries programmes are regional because fisheries issues often cross borders and need regional solutions. See for instance: TRUEFISH – Fish farming in Lake Victoria, FISHGOV2 that supports fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, NAVAC that covers value-chains in 4 African countries and ECOFISH in the Indian Ocean.

Cooperation at continental level

In 2023, based on the outcomes of a feasibility study, the European Commission set up an Africa-Europe Ocean Strategic group to help the two continents to work together on ocean issues. This group is run by the Africa-Europe Foundation and funded by the European Commission (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund). A series of events has been organised to promote a strengthened collaboration between Europe and Africa on ocean-related matters. In October 2024, the group issued its final report.

The European Union organises events to connect African entrepreneurs with investors in the blue economy. Three editions have been organised so far: Seychelles (2022), Kenya (2024) and Togo (2025).

The EU funds development cooperation projects with developing countries in the fisheries sector. The projects focus on aquaculture, marine capture fisheries and inland capture fisheries. Overall Africa is the main recipient of EU funds for fisheries and aquaculture, receiving about €200 million. 

Next steps

The European Commission is working to implement the actions set out in the EU Comprehensive Strategy towards Africa, the international dimension of the European Ocean Pact and the commitments jointly taken with the African Union.