Ghana Doubles Protected Coastal Waters to Save Artisanal Fisheries
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📰 The quick summary: Ghana’s new fisheries act doubles the size of its inshore exclusion zone, protecting artisanal fishers while aiming to restore severely depleted pelagic fish stocks that provide most Ghanaians with affordable protein.
📈 One key stat: Fish makes up more than 60% of animal protein in Ghanaians’ diets, highlighting why protecting small pelagic fish stocks is crucial for the country’s food security.
💬 One key quote: “The new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act introduces bold reforms aimed at ensuring sustainability, compliance, and improved livelihood, especially among small-scale fishers,” Eric Baah, the spokesperson for the Ghanaian Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said in an official statement.

1️⃣ The big picture: Ghana has passed a landmark fisheries act to restore depleted fish stocks and combat illegal fishing practices. The legislation doubles the size of the inshore exclusion zone from 6 to 12 nautical miles offshore, protecting waters where small-scale fishers operate. This change directly benefits around 120,000 artisanal fishers who’ve struggled with declining catches due to industrial trawlers illegally fishing in protected areas. The new law also introduces stronger enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory electronic monitoring on industrial vessels and higher penalties for violations.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Expanding the protected waters gives artisanal fishing communities a better chance to restore their livelihoods after years of declining catches. The mandatory electronic monitoring systems on industrial vessels will provide actual evidence of compliance or violations, making enforcement more effective than before. Higher penalties create stronger deterrents against illegal fishing practices that have devastated local fish populations. The reforms also protect food security for millions of Ghanaians who rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein, while potentially helping Ghana avoid EU export restrictions that would cost the country $400 million annually.
3️⃣ What’s next: Officials must now focus on strict enforcement of the new regulations to ensure industrial vessels comply with the expanded exclusion zone. The government needs to implement the electronic monitoring system across all industrial fishing vessels as recommended after the 2023 pilot program. Small-scale fishers will monitor whether the expanded protections translate into increased catches and improved livelihoods.

Read the full story here: Mongabay – Ghana passes landmark legislation to protect artisanal fisheries