Ghana Parliament Approves Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025

Strategic Insights -

The Ghana Parliament has made significant strides in modernizing the country's fisheries and aquaculture sector by unanimously approving the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025. This legislative move aims to address pressing issues like illegal fishing, promote sustainable practices, and ensure food security and economic growth. The bill updates the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), and has undergone extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana. The passage of the bill is crucial in strengthening the regulatory framework for the fisheries sector, which supports approximately 2.4 million Ghanaians and contributes significantly to the nation's GDP.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, aims to strengthen the regulatory framework for the fisheries sector, addressing issues like illegal fishing, overfishing, habitat degradation, and mercury contamination.
  • Key provisions include extending the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) to 12 nautical miles or 50 meters, promoting sustainable aquaculture, and enhancing measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
  • The bill was approved following extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana, and scrutiny by the Select Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs.
  • The passage of the bill is crucial in addressing the European Union's second yellow card warning issued in 2021 over IUU fishing, which threatens Ghana's fish exports to the EU market.
  • The bill aims to support approximately 2.4 million Ghanaians who rely on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods and contribute significantly to the nation's GDP.
  • The bill addresses environmental challenges and promotes sustainable practices to ensure food security and economic growth.
  • The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, laid before Parliament in early June 2025 and referred to the Select Committee for detailed scrutiny.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 2.4 million Ghanaians rely on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods.
  • The fisheries sector contributes significantly to Ghana's GDP.
  • The Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) will be extended to 12 nautical miles or 50 meters to protect artisanal fishers from industrial vessels.
  • The bill aims to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which threatens Ghana's fish exports to the EU market.
  • Ghana received a second yellow card warning from the European Union in 2021 over IUU fishing.

Sources:

  • Ghana Web (2025) - "Parliament Approves Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025"