Selective enforcement undermining our collective efforts at addressing IUU fishing

Fishing Closed Season is a good management measure in Ghana's fisheries. However, it can only be effective if the Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing practices are stopped.

The No IUU pronouncement by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Fisheries Commission (FC) is certainly the way to go, and we support that.

As key stakeholders, we are mindful and highly concerned about the dying state of artisanal fisheries in Ghana, and its associated loss of livelihoods, and income, food, and nutrition insecurities.

The wanton destruction of our marine environment and the recent Yellow card placement by the EU commission, all resulting from illegal fishing, demands very urgent, impartial actions.

Unfortunately, artisanal fishers are not clear with the ministry's plan towards enforcing the laws and regulations on illegal fishing practices
As the leadership of canoe and gear owners, we have engaged artisanal fishers on the use of unapproved nets, Fisheries Aggregation Devices, and explosives, which Regulation 8,11, and 12 of L.I. 1968 prohibit, but recent developments in our fisheries has left serious doubts about the commitment to enforce the fisheries laws and regulations impartially to the letter.

The seemingly selective enforcement and selective arrest undermine our collective efforts at combating IUU fishing. Ongoing operations on light fishing focusing alone on canoe fishers and not industrial and semi-industrial vessels is very worrying.

Although Regulation 11 of L.I. 1968 has no discretionary provision, we are aware of the Special Dispensation granted to Tuna Vessels operators to do light fishing which went on even during the closed season period, creating among artisanal fishers, the impression that light fishing is not harmful as has been stated.

Semi-industrial vessels engaging in light fishing are also a known fact to the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, but the operators are apparently not attended to. It has therefore become extremely difficult to impress on artisanal fishers not to do light fishing, in the same marine space where other fishers are allowed to do.

The level of compliance during the 2021 Fishing Closed Season is an indication that artisanal fishers are responsible resource users who will comply with relevant fisheries laws and regulations when enforcement is not selective, and implementation is comprehensive, collaborative, and participatory.

We request engagement with Canoe and Gear Owners, and other stakeholders on a comprehensive plan to address IUU fishing in our marine fishery.