The associated maritime ecosystem provides a rich biodiversity, fresh water from inland rivers and lakes, as well as the bounty of the Atlantic Ocean. This ecosystem provides critical life-supporting activities for a majority of the West African population, most of whom depend on it directly or indirectly for their survival, whether through employment, trade, transport, arts and culture, and aqua-farming or as a primary source of protein. The fishing industry provides employment to millions West Africans and significant export revenue to the region’s economy.

All ECOWAS member states are thus linked to the region’s maritime resources. These include the three landlocked countries (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) that are linked by maritime inland waterways, lakes and rivers.

Six countries share the Niger River (the longest in the region), namely Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin.

In addition, the landlocked countries need access to the sea for the import and export of goods.

For a number of ECOWAS countries, resources from the EMD, which include oil and gas exploration, account for most of their foreign earnings.