Local Collaborative Committees Empower Coastal Communities To Restore Fisheries And Reclaim Access To EU Markets
Douala, Cameroon – The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), with support from the European Union (EU), has launched a series of strategic initiatives to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Cameroon’s territorial waters, a dispatch said on September 3, 2025.
This effort responds to the EU’s issuance of a “red card” in 2021, which banned Cameroonian fishery products from entering EU markets due to ongoing IUU fishing violations.
In collaboration with the Government of Cameroon, coastal communities, and key partners, EJF is facilitating the formation of Local Collaborative Management Committees (LCMCs) — grassroots bodies designed to give voice to marginalized groups including women, youth, and ethnic minorities. These committees will play a key role in monitoring illegal fishing activities, shaping sustainable fisheries policies, and bridging communication between communities and authorities.
“Through our global toolkit for participatory governance, EJF is equipping small-scale fishing communities with the tools to fight IUU fishing and promote ethical, legal, and sustainable practices,” said Augustine Fayiah, EJF Programme Officer for Liberia. “Cameroon is one of 15 countries where this toolkit is being implemented alongside community-led management structures.”
As part of this initiative, community members will utilize EJF’s innovative Dase app to report illegal fishing in real time. Fishermen can capture images of trawlers — complete with vessel names and geolocation data — and submit them for analysis to a central database that informs enforcement efforts.
The formation of LCMCs in key coastal areas such as Mbiako and Yoyo involved a broad coalition, including the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, the Conservation Service of the Douala-Edéa National Park, local traditional authorities, and representatives from Cameroonian, Nigerian, and Ghanaian fishing communities. Technical support was provided by EJF and the Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society (CWCS).
The LCMCs, each composed of 10 representatives, will serve a renewable five-year mandate. Their responsibilities include developing community management plans, promoting conservation education, reporting illegal exploitation and poaching, and supporting surveillance of protected areas.
At the installation ceremony in Mbiako and Yoyo, the Yoruba slogan “AJESEKU” — meaning “Eat small and leave some” — echoed through the fishing settlements, symbolizing a commitment to sustainability. The event, attended by diverse coastal populations and officiated by the Divisional Officer Roland Ngah Koa, marked a significant milestone in Cameroon’s fisheries reform.
“We must address the issue of trawlers head-on. I believe removing military protection from these vessels would be a strong first step,” said Mbiako LCMC President.
His counterpart in Yoyo, Magnaen Louis Fils, added: “The collaboration must be genuine. With support from the government and NGOs, we can bring lasting change.”
Traditional leaders have also voiced strong support for the initiative. His Majesty Ebenezer Tonga Ngando, Chief of Yoyo II, emphasized the importance of protecting mangroves used in fish smoking.
“If we destroy the mangrove, we destroy the breeding grounds for fish,” he said.
Mvondo Kenneth, Conservator of the Douala-Edéa National Park, praised the creation of LCMCs as aligning with national policy on community involvement.
“These committees are critical allies in the sustainable management of our marine and forest ecosystems. The conservation services cannot do it alone,” he noted.
As Cameroon works to restore its fisheries and rebuild trust with international markets, these local governance structures represent a crucial step toward sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven solutions.