Artisanal fishers welcome presidential assent to Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025

Artisanal fishers in Ghana have commended and welcomed the Presidential Assent to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025, which, among others, expanded Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) from six nautical miles to 12 nautical miles. 

The Canoe and Fishing Gear Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), which had advocated for the bill in its formulation stages, reacting to the Presidential Assent, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that “On behalf of all artisanal fishers and workers in the small-scale fisheries sector of Ghana, CaFGOAG welcomes the Presidential Assent to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025.” 

They indicated that “Artisanal fishers celebrate this milestone with pride, knowing that our voices have been heard, and we will continue to work with government and all other partners to ensure that this new law brings real change to our waters and to our communities.” 

Nana Kweigyah, CaFGOAG National President, indicated that for decades, artisanal fishers had struggled with declining catches due to competition from industrial fishing trawlers that encroach into nearshore fishing grounds and harvest small pelagic species, which are the mainstay of the artisanal fisheries sector. 

“The expansion of the IEZ provides stronger legal backing to safeguard nearshore waters reserved for artisanal fishing and offers a renewed hope that small pelagic species in particular and fishery resources in general will recover to sustain fishing communities who depend on the sea for food, work, and cultural identity,” he said. 

He said fishers commend Parliament and the government of Ghana for listening to the concerns of fishing communities and taking bold steps to strengthen fisheries governance. 

“CaFGOAG is particularly grateful to the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur (MP), for the sterling leadership in getting the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025 completed, passed and assented to. CaFGOAG extends gratitude to all our partners, particularly the Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition, for the technical support towards artisanal fishers’ participation in the legislative review process.” 

He said the association was calling on the Fisheries Commission, the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, and all relevant authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the expanded IEZ, while they pledge their commitment to promoting responsible fishing practices and collaboration with enforcement agencies while supporting initiatives that reduce Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

He also encouraged the government to complement the IEZ expansion with effective co-management structures and participatory monitoring and surveillance, integration of indigenous knowledge and local practices in fisheries management.

There is also investments in fisheries infrastructure, and scientific research involving artisanal fishers’ participation in data collection and analysis to secure sustainable fisheries for Ghana.

Source: GNA

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