Fisheries Minister Calls for Collective Action to Protect Ghana’s Marine Resources

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs Emelia Arthur, has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, fishing communities, traditional authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to protect Ghana’s marine resources and promote sustainable fisheries management.

She said the future of the fisheries sector depended on collective responsibility, sustained stakeholder engagement and the active participation of communities whose livelihoods were directly connected to the health and productivity of the country’s marine resources.

Mrs Arthur made the call on Monday at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, with support from Blue Ventures, for key actors in the small-scale fisheries sector from the Central, Western, Greater Accra and Volta Regions.

The Minister said protecting fisheries resources required cooperation at all levels, particularly from fishing communities, traditional authorities and institutions responsible for enforcing fisheries laws and regulations.

She encouraged stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at improving compliance with fisheries regulations, strengthening social protection and promoting responsible fishing practices.

Mrs Arthur said sustainable management of Ghana’s fisheries resources was necessary to secure the livelihoods of present and future generations of fishers and coastal communities.

She also expressed appreciation to Blue Ventures for supporting the engagement and commended representatives from the four coastal regions for their participation and contributions.

The engagement provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the state of artisanal fisheries, emerging challenges and practical measures to improve fisheries management and the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Presentations during the engagement focused on the state of small-scale fisheries and emerging issues, canoe licensing and social protection measures, including insurance and pension schemes for artisanal fishers.

The discussions also enabled participants to share experiences, identify common challenges and explore solutions tailored to the needs of the different coastal regions.

The Ministry said the engagement formed part of its efforts to deepen stakeholder consultation, improve awareness of fisheries policies and regulations and promote the sustainable management of Ghana’s fisheries resources.

Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD