By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is calling on officials to enhance law enforcement and guarantee robust prosecution ofIllegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in Ghana.
The organization states that effectively prosecuting lawbreakers will act as a deterrent and assist in reducing the growing adoption of harmful and illegal fishing techniques.
At a joint agency conference convened in Takoradi, Mr. Osei-Akoto Nyantakyi, a Programs Officer from the EJF, highlighted that Ghana’s fish populations are decreasing rapidly. According to him, this decline can be blamed on both climate change and the continuous employment of destructive fishing methods like lighting fires under nets, using explosives, carbide, and poisonous substances.
The workshop convened individuals from the Ghana Navy, Marine Police Unit, Office of the Attorney-General along with the Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) Division of the Fisheries Commission. This gathering was designed to pinpoint weaknesses within the enforcement process, suggest legislative and operational improvements, and enhance collaboration between involved parties.
Mr. Nyantakyi emphasized the critical necessity for stronger implementation of current fisheries regulations and swifter judicial consequences to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. He pointed out that insufficient law enforcement and limited capabilities within the prosecution process are hindering attempts to safeguard oceanic assets.
The participants observed that Ghana's fisheries enforcement system lacks adequate resources, including insufficient staff and tools. Currently, the nation is split into just two maritime oversight regions—the Eastern and Western—which leaves considerable areas uncovered. It was suggested that new Fisheries Enforcement Units should be set up in the Central and Volta Regions to enhance response capabilities.
There were concerns about existing laws that permit specific fishery violations—though they are crimes—to be resolved outside of court. Interested parties have demanded an assessment of these systems, aiming to eliminate gaps and enhance the reliability of prosecutions.
The workshop ended with an appeal for consistent, focused training programs aimed at developing long-term capabilities among law enforcers, legal professionals, and other participants in the fisheries industry.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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