Canoe Council hails IFG project for promoting science-based fisheries management

The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) has praised the Improving Fisheries Governance (IFG) project for empowering local fishers to embrace science and discard superstitious practices in the management of fisheries and coastal resources.

According to GNCFC President Nana Jojo Solomon, the capacity-building training provided by the IFG project has helped fishers across the country better understand the importance of science and data in sustainable fisheries management, particularly within the marine sector.

He noted that the Council has successfully trained trainers, who in turn educate other fishers under the GNCFC umbrella on sustainable fishing practices.

Nana Solomon made these remarks during a three-day West African regional fisheries conference held in Accra on October 21, 2024.

The conference brought together stakeholders from coastal nations in West Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin, to discuss sustainable fisheries management strategies.

The conference, held under the theme "Identification of Approaches to Extend IFG Project Activities to Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Member States," is part of the IFG pilot project launched in Ghana in 2021.

Overview of the IFG Project

The IFG project is a three-year initiative focused on promoting sustainable fisheries practices across FCWC member states. Since its launch in 2021, Ghana has served as the pilot country, with successful practices aimed to be extended to other nations in the region, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo.

Implemented by five civil society organizations—Hen Mpoano, Friends of the Nation (FoN), the FCWC Secretariat, TM Tracking (TMT), and the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)—the project focuses on key areas such as enhancing transparency, enforcing fisheries laws, promoting collaborative management, and building capacity among stakeholders to improve fisheries governance.

The current phase of the project, funded by Oceans 5 and the Oak Foundation, is set to conclude in December 2024. However, discussions are already in progress to extend its activities to other FCWC member states based on the lessons learned from Ghana’s implementation.

Nana Solomon acknowledged the significant benefits the GNCFC has gained from the project and called for the formalisation of the artisanal fisheries sector.

He pointed out that many fishers in the artisanal sector still rely on outdated methods and traditional knowledge, stressing the need for the introduction of modern technology to improve their practices.

He specifically highlighted the lack of tools like compasses and GPS among artisanal fishers, which hampers their navigation on the seas.

Expanding Fisheries Governance

The Coordinator of the IFG project and Director of Hen Mpoano, Kofi Agbogah, emphasised that the conference was designed to deepen conversations around improving fisheries governance in the FCWC region. 

He noted that while the first phase of the project focused on Ghana, lessons learned are continuously shared across the sub-region.

“We have done three to four years of activities targeting various aspects of fisheries governance with a high degree of successful outcomes, which we wish to share with governments, CSOs, partners, and fisheries stakeholders in the region through this workshop,” Mr. Agbogah said.

He added that the conference aimed to develop strategies for the future phase of the project, which is expected to include actions in other FCWC member states.

In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Fred Antwi-Boadu, commended the IFG project for its contributions to managing the country’s fish stocks.

He endorsed the extension of the project to other FCWC member states, noting that the project’s outcomes demonstrated the value of collaboration between governments and non-state actors.

Mr. Antwi-Boadu also called for stronger civil society engagement and partnerships with governments to improve fisheries governance and ensure the sustainability of resources in the sub-region.

He urged FCWC member states to support the push for a second phase of the project, which would benefit all member nations.