The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, has announced the suspension of fishing licenses for four industrial trawl vessels operating within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This decision, effective April 1, 2025, follows repeated breaches of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) and the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1968).
The affected vessels include:
- Meng Xin 10 (owned by Nassa Co. Ltd.)
- Florence 2 (owned by Akrafi Fisheries)
- Long Xiang 607 and Long Xiang 608 (owned by Wannimas Complex Co. Ltd.)
These vessels were found to have engaged in illegal practices such as unauthorized transshipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones, and harvesting juvenile fish.
These activities pose severe threats to Ghana’s marine ecosystem, undermine sustainable fisheries management efforts, and negatively impact livelihoods in coastal communities.
The Ministry invoked Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, which empower the Minister to suspend licenses for vessels involved in repeated illegalities.
“In accordance with Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), which
empower the Minister to suspend licenses of vessels involved in repeated illegalities, the
affected vessels have had their licences suspended for a period of twelve (12) months, effective 1st April 2025.”
The statement from the Ministry stressed that, Ghana’s fisheries sector has long been challenged by overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, which continue to endanger marine biodiversity, erode the income of artisanal fishers and compromise national food security. Practices such as illegal transshipment—locally known as Saiko—have particularly contributed to the depletion of key fish stocks and damaged the integrity of marine governance.
The Ministry said, “Section 132 of Act 625 criminalizes illegal transshipment, while Regulation 33(2) of L.I. 1968 explicitly prohibits transshipment between industrial vessels and canoes.
These violations are not only breaches of domestic law but also contravene international obligations and hinder progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.”
It added that, “Despite ongoing stakeholder engagement, education and regulatory reforms, certain industrial fishing operators continue to act with impunity. The Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to strict enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations as part of its mandate to safeguard Ghana’s marine resources.”
Read the full statement
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
