Joint Communiqué: Blue Voices Roundtable on Combating IUUF in East Africa

PRESS RELEASE: 1st September 2025, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

We, the participants of the Blue Voices Roundtable on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF), convened under The Jahazi Project, and representing government institutions, civil society organisations, youth networks, academic institutions, and regional bodies from across East Africa, reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, safeguarding coastal livelihoods, and advancing regional cooperation in the fight against IUUF.

Recognising that IUUF poses a serious threat to biodiversity, food security, and the economic stability of our coastal communities, we commit to:

• Strengthening regional collaboration through knowledge-sharing, harmonised enforcement, and peer support;
• Empowering communities by supporting local monitoring initiatives and building capacity for coastal stakeholders;
• Engaging youth and fostering innovation to develop creative, technology-driven solutions;
• Enhancing public awareness through advocacy, education, and communication; and
• Promoting sustained policy dialogue to ensure inclusive, coordinated, and accountable action.

We call upon regional governments, development partners, and civil society organisations to support these efforts so that, together, we may secure the sustainability of East Africa’s Blue Economy for present and future generations.