AN ANATOMY OF MARITIME INDUSTRY REGULATION IN WEST AFRICA

Abstract

The maritime industry is a value-added asset to the economic development, security, and international trade of West African states. Despite the existence of an international legal framework governing maritime affairs, the region continues to face persistent challenges, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and inadequate resource governance, among others. This paper x-rayed maritime regulations in West Africa through the lens of statutory and institutional regulation, with particular emphasis on the interaction between global legal instruments, regional frameworks, and domestic implementation across the region. The paper adopted a doctrinal methodology by relying on primary and secondary legal sources. The paper examined the extent to which international maritime legal obligations had been incorporated into effective regional and national regulatory action. The findings revealed that although international and regional legal frameworks provide a comprehensive normative foundation for maritime governance, their practical effectiveness remains constrained by fragmented and overlapping jurisdictions, among others. The paper recommends that effective international maritime law in West Africa depends largely on sustained political commitment, stronger institutional and enforcement frameworks, among others.