Responding to commitments to implement the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency from South Korea, Ghana and Cameroon, announced today at the Our Ocean conference in Busan, Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, said:

“Today, Korea, Ghana and Cameroon have set a new global standard for legal, sustainable, and ethical fisheries worldwide, with a landmark commitment to the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. This is a vital breakthrough for people and our planet.”

“Our research has shown that when seafood supply chains aren’t properly monitored, high-risk fishing vessels can slip through the cracks, selling seafood linked to illegal fishing and human rights abuses into national markets and the global seafood supply. The problem is clear: we can’t manage what we can’t see. By embracing transparency, these countries are charting a course for others to follow.”

“Transparency may seem abstract, but it is a powerful tool for a better future. It ensures fishers can work safely and with dignity. It levels the playing field for responsible operators. It safeguards marine wildlife for future generations. It restores balance to an ocean in crisis. With Korea, Ghana and Cameroon now leading the way, the message is clear: transparency is no longer optional. The question now is: who will be next?”

ENDS

Notes to editors

About EJF

Our work to secure environmental justice aims to protect our global climate, ocean, forests, wetlands, wildlife and defend the fundamental human right to a secure natural environment, recognising that all other rights are contingent on this. EJF works internationally to inform policy and drive systemic, durable reforms to protect our environment and defend human rights. We investigate and expose abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, communities, and independent journalists on the frontlines of environmental injustice. Our campaigns aim to secure peaceful, equitable and sustainable futures. Our investigators, researchers, filmmakers, and campaigners work with grassroots partners and environmental defenders across the globe. For more information, please contact media@ejfoundation.org.