TMT in 2025 - Intelligence in action

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year defined by deeper regional collaboration and steady progress in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Demand for high-quality fisheries intelligence continued to grow, particularly in support of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) implementation and port-based risk analysis. This was alongside important advances in regional vessel records and registries. In parallel, TMT invested strongly in people, delivering training and long-term mentoring across Africa and global partnerships, reaching hundreds of inspectors, analysts and practitioners, with increasing participation by women, and working across government, civil society and the fishing sector to strengthen accountability and fisheries governance.

Lead photo: Jeff Hester / Ocean Image Bank

Growing intelligence output and rising global demand

TMT produced over 90 intelligence outputs, ranging from in-depth reports to comprehensive port profiles, all designed to help our partners make informed decisions. A major achievement was the integration of key data from TMT’s FACT database into the Global Fishing Watch platform and data pipeline, providing richer, more accurate public vessel profiles.

Of the intelligence outputs delivered, these included in-depth assessments, regional intelligence reports and comprehensive port profiles supporting PSMA implementation. Our growing role in supporting port-state measures and related monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) frameworks reflects an increasing recognition of the essential role of intelligence-led fisheries governance.

Regional momentum - strengthening systems and collaboration

One of the year’s most significant milestones was progress on the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels (RRAFV) under the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, with Nigeria now confirmed to pilot the implementation of the record in 2026. Progress on the RRAFV also aligns well with other comparable mechanisms in development, such as the regional register of fishing vessels of the Southern African Development Community.

With strong political support from Member States — reaffirmed through the 2025 Monrovia Declaration — and long-standing cooperation with partners such as Stop Illegal Fishing and donors including Norway, the RRAFV is becoming a cornerstone of cooperative fisheries governance in West Africa. TMT has been proud to play an integral role in this process.

Operational capacity building: Expanding skills and strengthening practice

Operational capacity building remained a defining feature of TMT’s work this year. From Ghana to Madagascar, we helped strengthen national MCS capacity and ensure partners are equipped to apply intelligence effectively through 23 substantial trainings in-country.

These trainings spanned intelligence collection and analysis, the use of digital tools and platforms, vessel inspection and port-based enforcement and operational planning for fisheries patrols.

Each engagement supported our long-term commitment to empowering national agencies and ensuring sustainability of regional MCS systems.

Global impact through the Joint Analytical Cell

TMT’s collaboration within the Joint Analytical Cell (JAC) continued to strengthen in 2025, with deeper integration of JAC tools, workflows and expertise across our programmes — especially the TMT Ports Programme. The JAC’s new website was also launched, providing extra visibility to TMT and the other members of the JAC.

The JAC welcomes distinguished guests at a UN Oceans Conference event, including Annette Gibbons, Associate Deputy Minister at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

UN Ocean Conference

In early June, the JAC proudly hosted a networking event at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice. The gathering brought together governments, NGOs, regional organisations and technical partners, united by a shared mission to strengthen the global response to IUU fishing. The event underscored the power of collaboration and shared expertise — values at the heart of the JAC’s global impact.

Strengthening efforts against illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean

In August 2025, TMT and partner C4ADS, formally launched the US State Department-funded initiative 'Exposing IUU Fishing and Illicit Activity in the WIO and Beyond through Capacity Building, Actionable Analysis and Regional Collaboration' in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The project is already delivering intelligence and analytical support, operational guidance, and capacity building for national and regional patrol operations. In Dar es Salaam, partners identified priority needs and began planning upcoming national and regional patrols for 2026, reinforcing risk-based planning and the central role of the Regional Coordination Unit in shaping joint operations.

Integrating intelligence for even greater impact in 2026

As we move into the year ahead, TMT will continue to work alongside partners to provide the intelligence, tools and capacity needed to protect their waters and strengthen compliance. We remain committed to collaborating with the people who shape fisheries management in practice—across regions and sectors—translating shared intelligence into coordinated compliance actions that support food and nutrition security, jobs and an emerging blue economy by helping to end IUU fishing.

We thank our partners, Member States and supporters for their trust and collaboration, and look forward to continuing this shared effort in 2026 and beyond.