Editorial: Protect dwindling fish stock

Weak enforcement and inadequate capacity are harming marine resource protection.

This issue was discussed at a recent workshop in Takoradi. Participants included the Ghana Navy, Marine Police Unit, and the Attorney-General's Office. The workshop aimed to identify gaps in enforcement and suggest reforms.

Participants noted that Ghana’s fisheries enforcement is under-resourced. There are limited personnel and equipment available. Currently, the country has only two marine enforcement zones: Eastern and Western. This leaves significant coverage gaps.

To improve responsiveness, it was recommended to establish more Fisheries Enforcement Units. New units should be located in the Central and Volta Regions.

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing violates conservation measures worldwide. Global losses from IUU fishing are estimated between $10 billion and $23.5 billion annually. West African waters have some of the highest IUU levels globally, accounting for 37 percent of regional catches.

In Ghana alone, IUU fishing costs over $200 million each year. This data comes from the Environment and Natural Resource Research Initiative (ENRRI – EfD Ghana).