Nigeria’s struggle to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has come into sharp focus as the Federal Government seeks to leverage a €59 million European Union-backed programme to strengthen enforcement and protect the country’s rapidly depleting marine resources.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed the move during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, in Abuja, where both parties renewed commitments to maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.

The development underscores the scale of challenges facing Nigeria’s maritime sector despite ongoing reforms and investments under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

Oyetola acknowledged that illegal fishing continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s marine ecosystem, food security and coastal livelihoods, stressing that stronger international support and enforcement mechanisms have become imperative.

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty, and the survival of our coastal communities,” the minister said.

His remarks suggest that despite improvements in maritime security and port operations highlighted by the government, illegal fishing syndicates continue to exploit weaknesses in monitoring and enforcement across Nigeria’s territorial waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

The minister said Nigeria is eager to participate fully in the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), an EU-funded initiative aimed at improving ocean governance, fisheries management and protection of marine ecosystems across West Africa.

He noted that the programme would provide critical technical and financial support to strengthen surveillance, fisheries monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

Analysts say Nigeria’s decision to seek external support reflects growing concerns over the economic losses associated with illegal fishing, which has continued to undermine legitimate fishing businesses and threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Beyond piracy, Oyetola urged development partners to support Nigeria in combating environmental crimes, human trafficking and illegal fishing through a more coordinated regional approach.

Responding, Ambassador Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to maritime cooperation with Nigeria and support for regional efforts to promote sustainable ocean management.

According to him, the WASOP initiative is designed to strengthen coordination among coastal states, improve enforcement mechanisms and support the growth of an inclusive and sustainable blue economy across West Africa.

The special Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola in statement on sunday said the latest engagement comes amid increasing concerns over the long-standing challenge of illegal fishing in Nigerian waters. A problem, the statement said continues to deplete fish stocks, undermine food security, and erode the economic wellbeing of coastal communities.