Cameroon’s EU red card could accelerate its export shift to other markets

Cameroon is now looking to ship its seafood elsewhere after the European Commission issued a “red card,” effectively banning Cameroonian seafood exports.

On 5 January, 2023, the E.C. identified Cameroon as a noncooperating country in the fight against illegal fishing for continuing to “register fishing vessels under its flag without demonstrating its ability to effectively control and monitor their fishing activities, particularly when operating outside its territorial waters.”

The ban came nearly a year after the E.C. issued a yellow card to Cameroon – an official warning to the Cameroonian government of its failure to effectively tackle IUU fishing.

“Cameroon has not ensured sufficient cooperation with the [E.C.] in the fight against IUU fishing and did not provide adequate and timely replies to queries from the commission,” the E.C. said in a statement. “[The red card] is based on the failure of Cameroonian authorities to ensure adequate control over the national fishing fleet and to take necessary corrective measures for the cessation and prevention of IUU fishing activities. Cameroon has continued registering fishing vessels that operate outside its waters, including an IUU fishing vessel, while there is a lack of monitoring of their activities.”

Cameroon becomes the second country in Africa given a red card  after Comoros, while Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone received yellow cards in June 2021, May 2017, and April 2016, respectively. Togo and Guinea had their red cards removed in October 2016 and October 2014, respectively.

“The decision by the European Commission to impose a red card on Cameroon is regrettable, but absolutely the right one given the circumstances,” Environmental Justice Foundation CEO and Founder Steve Trent said in a statement.

Trent said Cameroon is losing out economically despite a significant number of large foreign trawlers flying the country’s flag. FAO data shows 15 percent decline in the value of Cameroon’s overall fish and seafood exports between 2016 and 2020, from USD 4.99 million (EUR 4.57 million) to USD 4.27 million (EUR 3.91 million).

The vessels “have little to no Cameroonian ownership, do not land fish at the country’s ports, and do not appear to employ Cameroonian fishers," Trent said.

"Cameroon’s government has taken action in recent years to …

Photo courtesy of Oceans 5