MINISTER CALLS FOR GLOBAL UNITY TO PROTECT FISHERIES AND LIVELIHOODS
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The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Kobiaba Arthur, has urged greater international cooperation to protect fisheries, describing them as vital pillars of peace, livelihoods, and global food security.

Speaking at a conference at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) themed “Fisheries and Stability: A Global Issue?”, the Minister warned that the sector faces mounting threats from illegal fishing, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change.

“Fisheries are a lifeline. They feed the world, employ millions, and anchor communities. In Ghana alone, nearly three million people depend directly on fisheries for their livelihoods,” she said.

Citing the FAO’s 2024 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report, she noted that 35% of global fish stocks are overfished, up from just 10% in 1974, with West Africa losing an estimated $2.3 billion annually to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

She cautioned that the collapse of fisheries fuels instability, driving young people into desperation and leaving vessels vulnerable to transnational crimes such as trafficking and smuggling.

On Ghana’s response, Minister Arthur highlighted the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), the extension of the Inshore Exclusive Zone for artisanal fishers to 12 nautical miles, and the suspension of industrial licences for infractions. She also referenced strengthened enforcement through the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, enhanced vessel monitoring, and inter-agency coordination with the Navy and Marine Police.

“We are not just talking, we are acting,” she stressed, adding that legislation alone cannot secure sustainability without partnerships across industry, communities, and borders.

The Minister called on stakeholders to view themselves as stewards of a shared resource and urged cross-border solidarity: “Fish swim across borders, so must our cooperation.”

She concluded with an appeal to place people and planet above profit: “If we embrace equity and solidarity, fisheries will not be a source of conflict, but a pillar of peace and stability.”

 


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