New fisheries law de-risks potential EU ban

By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE

Here’s the rewrite in a clear, business-style lead according to British standards:

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has welcomed the new Fisheries and Aquaculture law, describing it as a crucial step toward lifting the European Union’s ‘yellow card’ trade warning against the country.

By enshrining stronger measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and enhancing fisheries transparency, the law, according to EJF, gives regulators and enforcement agencies the needed tools to act decisively against law-breaking vessels.

With these new powers, the country can now demonstrate to international partners that it is serious about reforming fisheries management and protecting the nation’s marine resources.

Welcoming what the organisation described as an historic assent, EFJ explained that the bold act of leadership will help to build effective protection for the country’s small-scale fishers, strengthen food security and lay the foundation for marine ecosystems to recover.

“By signing the bill into law exactly as passed by parliament, Ghana’s president has shown a clear commitment to safeguarding the livelihoods of over 400,000 small-scale fishers and millions of Ghanaians who depend on fish as a vital source of food and income,” EJF noted.

Indeed, EJF and other key stakeholders have said the new Fisheries and Aquaculture law introduces critical reforms – including the long-awaited expansion of Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) from 6 to 12 nautical miles.

Reserved for artisanal fishers, this extended area will shield them from destructive industrial trawlers that have too often encroached illegally – killing fishers in collisions, destroying their nets and depleting fish populations.

Commenting on the feat, CEO-EJF Steve Trent said: “This new law marks a turning point for Ghana’s fisheries and coastal communities. The president’s assent to the Fisheries and Aquaculture bill sends a clear signal of leadership, vision and commitment to the millions of people who rely on a healthy ocean.

“By supporting small-scale fishers, safeguarding food security and tackling illegal industrial fishing head-on, Ghana has set a course for a sustainable and equitable future. We commend the president, Minister Arthur and Ghana’s parliament for this bold step forward.”

The bill’s passage comes at a critical time as more than 90 percent of artisanal fishers report declining catches, while populations of small pelagic species such as sardinella have almost entirely collapsed in a few years.

EJF maintains that without urgent action such as the new law, Ghana risked losing not only a vital food source but also a cornerstone of national culture and livelihood.

The organisation however emphasises that the focus must now shift to swift and complete implementation.

It added that: “Laws alone cannot deliver change without consistent and robust enforcement. With effective monitoring, transparent governance and strong penalties for illegal operators, the law can deliver on its promise of rebuilding Ghana’s fisheries and protecting ocean ecosystems for generations to come”.

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