This paper will first briefly examine the marine environment of the West Africa coast with a focus on the environment of the West African coast with a focus on the region's living marine resources. This will be followed by a discussion of the Law of the Sea Convention with particular reference to its impact on fishery resource development. The paper will take a look at emerging state practice in the region with respect to national claims to expanded jurisdiction as well as bilateral and multilateral agreements designed to facilitate exploitation and management of living marine resources, particularly those that are trans boundary in nature. The prospects for development of the regions fishery resources as a domestic food source and as a source of international exchange will be evaluated.