Nigeria, June 27 -- The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is on track to be adopted this year, with Ghana the latest African country to ratify. Nine more ratifications are needed to reach the total of 111, which activates the treaty. The landmark deal will come into force in what looks like a 'super year' for ocean governance.

Yet only around a third of African states have ratified it, raising questions about whether the agreement risks faltering where the benefits are most needed.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation's most recent State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report says Africa's fisheries are among the most vulnerable and highly impacted by overfishing and illicit, unreported and unregulated ...