Russia's Billions in Illegal African Fishing Fuel the War in Ukraine.

Russia's Unlawful Fishing Operations in West African Waters

According to TSN.ua: Russia is conducting large-scale illegal fishing in West African waters, generating billions in revenue to fund its war of aggression against Ukraine. This illicit industry severely damages the economies of coastal nations and depletes marine ecosystems. According to data, the African continent loses roughly $11.2 billion annually to illegal fishing, with West African nations bearing the brunt of $9.4 billion of that total. This practice is part of a broader pattern of Russia exploiting global resources to circumvent sanctions and finance its military.

Russia ranks as a world leader in illegal fishing, second only to China. In December 2025, Russia secured a fishing agreement with Morocco, a deal that costs the North African nation an estimated $500 million each year due to the unlawful exploitation of its marine resources. In Sierra Leone, Russia obtained rights to harvest up to 40,000 tons of fish annually.

Ecosystem Damage and International Concern

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that over half of the fish stocks in the area stretching from the Strait of Gibraltar to the mouth of the Congo River are already in a state of biological instability. By early 2026, the industrial index for these regions turned negative, while inflation exceeded 4%.

Researcher Joseph Siegel observed: 'As we have already seen with gold and other minerals, diamonds, and to some extent oil and gas, Russia sees an opportunity to expand fishing in the exclusive economic zones of African countries.'

The countries where Russia is actively engaged in this fishing include:

• Morocco
• Sierra Leone
• Angola
• Guinea-Bissau
• Mauritania
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Senegal

This situation has sparked significant alarm within the international community, which is calling for decisive action to protect marine resources and promote equitable fisheries management in African waters.

The consequences of Russia's illegal fishing extend far beyond immediate economic loss. The destruction of marine resources threatens biodiversity and the stability of ocean ecosystems, risking long-term environmental crises. The global community now faces the urgent task of safeguarding resources that are vital not only to regional nations but to the health of the global environment.