Fisheries Ministry suspends four trawlers’ licences, exceeds 2025 inspection targets

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has suspended the licences of four industrial trawlers for repeated breaches of fishing regulations, as inspection activities at Ghana’s ports surpass the annual targets for 2025.

The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Emelia Arthur, said this at a press briefing dubbed "Government Accountability Series" in Accra on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

She said the Ministry, through the Fisheries Commission, had intensified its enforcement efforts to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities across the country.

“As part of our fisheries enforcement measures, we have conducted 265 quayside inspections, exceeding our target of 159. For pre-departure inspections, the target was 175, but we achieved 210,” Mrs Arthur said.

She added that the enforcement drive is being led by the Ministry’s Fisheries Enforcement Unit, which includes the Ghana Navy, Marine Police, and community-based enforcement committees.

“Even this dawn, their operations led to the arrest of individuals involved in the illegal trade of premix fuel,” she said.

Mrs Arthur also disclosed that electronic monitoring systems have been installed on all industrial vessels. “We have implemented 24/7 electronic monitoring to improve surveillance and compliance,” she said.

According to her, the Ministry has also developed a fisheries risk assessment dashboard to strengthen oversight.

The enforcement campaign is part of broader regulatory changes, including the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025. The new law introduces tougher penalties and more direct oversight to tackle illegal practices and restore fish stocks.

Mrs Arthur said the legislation supports efforts to rebuild the fisheries sector in line with international norms and is intended to help Ghana address the European Union’s yellow card, which has remained in place for five years.

She said the Ministry’s actions are aimed at protecting marine resources and the livelihoods of the estimated 2.7 million Ghanaians involved in the fisheries value chain.

“Our work over the past six months has been shaped by the goal of building a sustainable and well-managed fisheries and aquaculture sector that supports equity, innovation, and investment,” she said.

Mrs Arthur gave an assurance that the Ministry will continue implementing the new Fisheries Act and enforcing the law across all coastal and inland fishing zones.