The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, has taken a bold step to curb illegal fishing practices by suspending the licenses of four industrial trawl vessels operating within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The vessels in question – Meng Xin 10, Florence 2, Long Xiang 607, and Long Xiang 608 – were found guilty of repeated violations of the Fisheries Act and Regulations, including unauthorised transshipment, dumping of fish, and harvesting juvenile fish. These illicit activities pose a significant threat to Ghana’s marine ecosystem, compromise sustainable fisheries management, and negatively impact the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.
The Ministry emphasised that such actions will attract severe sanctions, including license suspensions, cancellations, and legal action. The suspension of the licenses, effective April 1, 2025, serves as a warning to all fishing operators to comply with the law. The Ministry remains committed to promoting sustainable fisheries management for the benefit of present and future generations.
The offenses committed by the vessels include unauthorized transshipment, where catches are illicitly offloaded to smaller vessels at sea. They were also found guilty of dumping fish at sea, harming marine biodiversity, and fishing in restricted zones, threatening marine ecosystems. Furthermore, they were harvesting juvenile fish, depleting fish stocks and disrupting the marine food chain.
The Ministry’s decisive action aims to safeguard Ghana’s marine resources and promote sustainable fishing practices. This move is part of the government’s efforts to address the long-standing challenge of illegal fishing practices in Ghana’s fisheries sector. Illegal fishing practices, particularly transshipment, have been a major concern for Ghana’s fisheries sector, depleting fish stocks, eroding artisanal fishers’ incomes, and threatening national food security.
Moreover, these activities violate international obligations and hinder progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use marine resources. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement of fisheries laws to safeguard marine resources. The government urged all fishing operators – industrial, semi-industrial, and artisanal – to comply with the law and promote sustainable fishing practices.
Despite ongoing stakeholder engagement and regulatory reforms, certain operators continue to act with impunity. The Ministry averred its dedication to promoting sustainable fisheries management for the benefit of present and future generations. The suspension of the licenses serves as a warning to all fishing operators that the government will not tolerate illegal fishing practices and will take decisive action to protect Ghana’s marine resources.
By Dennis Ato Keelson
