A revised fisheries law to modernise the sector and align it with global practices is in the works, a move that is hoped to lift the five-year-old yellow card sanction from the European Union (EU) over illegal fishing.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Emelia Arthur, said the new legislation is a crucial part of Ghana’s broader strategy to develop its blue economy, while addressing weaknesses in monitoring and enforcement.
The new bill will bring the regulatory framework in line with international standards and help to deal decisively with the challenges flagged by the EU. Ghana received a “yellow card” warning from the EU in 2019 due to concerns about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The warning has since limited Ghana’s access to the EU seafood market, placing pressure on local fishers and exporters.
Mrs. Arthur indicated that the country needs to work to immediately get the yellow card lifted, otherwise she risks getting a red card. In fact, the red card means fish from Ghana cannot be exported to the EU market which happens to be the largest market for Ghana’s fisheries sector.
The revised bill is expected to tighten controls on fishing vessels, improve data reporting and strengthen penalties for non-compliance. It will also include provisions for sustainable stock management and better protection of marine ecosystems.
The fisheries sector contributes significantly to the local economy, providing 60 percent of animal protein and supporting nearly 3 million jobs across the value chain. However, illegal industrial trawling, weak enforcement and dwindling fish stocks have left many coastal communities struggling.
Indeed, major strides have been made in finalising the Draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, which could not be initially passed by the 8th Parliament.
She stressed that the new bill will ensure sustainable, well-governed and resilient fisheries and aquaculture sector driven by equity, innovation and strategic investment.
Mrs. Arthur also said an independent review by a Ghanaian Fisheries Law professor based in Australia will provide final recommendations before parliamentary approval.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, acknowledged the ministry’s efforts in addressing the EU yellow card issue and called for collective ownership of the new legal framework.
