Nigeria is seeking to join a Norwegian-led initiative to strengthen maritime surveillance and combat illegal fishing, as authorities look to protect the country’s marine resources and support local fishing communities.

Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola expressed the country’s interest in joining the Blue Justice initiative during a meeting with Norway’s ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, in Abuja on October 12, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Discussions focused on access to satellite-based vessel tracking data, intelligence sharing and training for Nigerian officials responsible for analysing maritime information.

The cooperation would help authorities monitor vessel movements, identify suspicious activity and strengthen enforcement against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Such practices can undermine fish stocks, threaten the livelihoods of local fishing communities and deprive coastal countries of economic benefits.

The Blue Justice initiative, launched by Norway in 2019, supports international cooperation against fisheries-related crime. Its surveillance programme provides participating countries with tools and vessel-tracking information to help identify potentially illegal activities at sea.

For Nigeria, closer cooperation with Norway could improve the ability of maritime authorities to detect suspicious fishing operations and investigate possible violations of national and international regulations.

However, the discussions mark a step towards potential cooperation, and the reported announcement does not establish that Nigeria has formally completed its accession to the initiative.

The move comes as coastal countries across West Africa face challenges in monitoring their waters and protecting marine resources from illegal fishing.