Media urged to spotlight safety and governance in fisheries sector

By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi

Stakeholders in the domestic fishing industry have called on media to keep the spotlight on safety and governance in the sector

This, according to them, is to help protect thousands of artisanal fishers’s lives and livelihoods across the country.

The call was made during a training workshop on ‘Fishing Safety Standards and Incident Reporting’ held in Takoradi for selected journalists and fishers.

Organised by Friends of the Nation (FoN) in collaboration with ProSea Marine Education under the Marine SafeNet Ghana Project, the workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to make the fisheries space safer, fairer and more sustainable, particularly for small-scale fishers who form the sector’s backbone.

The training exposed journalists to tools for effective incident reporting and noted the importance of highlighting safety lapses to prompt timely interventions by authorities.

Executive Director-FoN Donkris Mevuta underscored the media’s crucial role in promoting awareness and influencing policy on fishing safety.

“By reporting with empathy, accuracy and consistency, media help ensure that fishers’ struggles and achievements are seen, respected and never forgotten,” he said.

“Together, we can ensure that every fisher goes to sea with hope and returns home safely. We can change the story from tragedy to transformation.”

Mr. Mevuta pointed out that small-scale fishers are seen as the “unsung heroes of food security, coastal culture and community resilience”, yet noted that fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations globally.

He cited data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which estimate that more than 24,000 fishers lose their lives each year, while the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports an average of 80 fatalities and 100 injuries every single day.

“Here in Ghana, where small-scale fishers make up more than 90 percent of our fishing workforce, every journey to sea carries uncertainty,” he said.

He added that “every time a canoe leaves the shore, a family waits and prays” – attributing many of the accidents to poor vessel conditions, inadequate safety gear and worsening weather conditions linked to climate change.

“When accidents or near-misses occur, the impact extends far beyond the statistics; they represent the loss of fathers, brothers, breadwinners and the breaking of families and entire communities,” he explained.

Mr. Mevuta reiterated the need for stronger collaboration among media, regulators and fishing communities to promote safer, fairer and more sustainable working conditions for fishers.

“The safety of our fishers is not just a maritime issue; it is a national responsibility,” he concluded.