Illegal fishing practices in Cameroon are threatening not only marine ecosystems but also public health, with experts warning that fish caught using toxic chemicals could expose consumers to harmful substances.
Dr Ysaac Chavely Mbile Nguema, a fisheries and blue economy expert, raised the alarm during a transparency workshop for journalists held at the African Marine Conservation Organization (AMCO) in Yaoundé on October 9.
He warned that fishing methods involving cyanide, other poisons and dynamite could contaminate fish intended for human consumption.
The poison that goes into the fish will naturally end up on consumers tables, he said.
Fish remains a staple source of protein for many Cameroonian households. However, the use of toxic substances in fishing raises concerns about contamination that may not be visible to consumers. Depending on the substance involved, its concentration and the level of exposure, some toxins may remain a health risk even after cooking.
Although the precise health effects of such practices can be difficult to establish without systematic laboratory testing, experts say the lack of comprehensive data should not be a reason for complacency.
Journalists, therefore, have an important role to play in raising public awareness and demanding greater transparency in the fisheries sector. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is not merely an environmental and economic offence; it can also become a food safety concern with consequences for households across the country.
Beyond protecting consumers, Cameroon faces the challenge of lifting the European Unions red card, which has damaged the countrys reputation and affected the exploitation and marketing of its fishery products.
The country must also protect artisanal fishers from the effects of industrial fishing while ensuring that small-scale operators comply with regulations and do not engage in illicit practices themselves.
This requires stricter adherence to fisheries legislation established by the State through the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), alongside effective monitoring and enforcement.
Since 2022, the African Marine Conservation Organization (AMCO) has supported the government through the Stop IUU Fishing in Cameroon project, implemented in collaboration with MINEPIA and IIDF.
The initiative contributed to the development of a new fisheries law and its implementing decrees, which were signed by the Prime Minister on March 18.
Under MINEPIAs supervision, AMCO is now working to ensure the effective implementation of the legislation. Its efforts include strengthening enforcement, improving the traceability of fishery products, promoting sanitary controls and raising public awareness.
The initiative seeks to link the sustainable management of fisheries resources with consumer protection, while improving transparency and governance in the sector.
These issues were discussed during a training workshop titled Promoting Fisheries Transparency and Good Governance in Cameroon, organised in Yaoundé on October 9 for journalists from the MEFAR and REMAPSEN networks.
The workshop focused on promoting transparency principles in fisheries management and equipping journalists to report on illegal fishing, its consequences and the need for accountability in the sector.
By Solange Tegwi