The West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) has been launched with a funding of $68 million from the European Union to tackle the alarming decline of fisheries in West Africa. This initiative is spearheaded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). The program aims to address illegal fishing, restore marine ecosystems, and promote a sustainable blue economy across 13 coastal nations. With over half of the fish stocks in the region being unsustainably exploited, the initiative is crucial for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where fishing contributes significantly to GDP. Experts emphasize the need for effective implementation and transboundary cooperation to ensure success. A call for pilot projects worth €10 million is expected soon to support local blue economy initiatives, aiming to create jobs and reduce poverty in the region.