Researchers from UC Santa Barbara suggests that African countries could significantly boost economic benefits and safeguard marine biodiversity by forming a collaborative “fish cartel.” The research, published in Nature Communications, underscores the potential advantages of African nations joining forces to sell fishing rights collectively, challenging the current practice of individually selling access to their fisheries.
Lead author Gabriel Englander, formerly a postdoctoral researcher at UCSB’s Environmental Markets Lab (emLab), highlights that the existing system, where foreign fishers can exploit their purchasing power, leads to a substantial disparity between what African countries earn from their fisheries and the profits generated by foreign fishers. For instance, in 2019, Senegal received $90 per ton of tuna caught by European Union vessels, while EU fishers made $1,687 per ton—almost 20 times more.
The proposed “fish cartel” model draws inspiration from the Pacific Islands’ Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), where nine Pacific Island nations collaboratively manage fishing in their waters since 1982. The PNA’s coordinated approach resulted in higher access fees ($454 per ton in 2019) and contributed to sustainable fishing practices, serving as a potential blueprint for African nations.
Englander emphasizes that raising access fees individually would make African countries less competitive, but collectively negotiating higher prices could yield substantial economic benefits. The suggested “Africa Coalition” could raise access fees from the current $128 to $152, potentially generating an additional $37 million in annual profits and fostering sustainable fishing practices.
While challenges such as differing interests and varying fisheries’ characteristics exist, the researchers believe that, given the continent’s increasing economic integration, an Africa-wide fisheries coalition could be a strategic investment with both short- and long-term benefits for African nations and their marine environments.
“African countries don’t need anyone’s permission to create a fish cartel, and they can begin now,” notes Englander. The proposed initiative offers an opportunity for African countries to exert economic power and simultaneously promote the growth of fish stocks.
