Why West African Countries Must Fight Illegal Fishing

Fishing is seen as a relatively untapped sector for Africa's development and prosperity. It is unlikely to bear fruit though unless the exploitation of marine resources is curbed. Illegal fishing takes different forms, but large-scale industrial operators do the most damage to ecosystems and the environment.

Climate change worsens the effects of overexploited fish stocks, limiting their ability to regenerate. Given the current crisis, urgent measures are needed in vulnerable coastal communities, particularly in West Africa where piracy, armed robbery and kidnapping are rampant, writes Denys Reva, and David Willima for the Institute for Security Studies.