Participants of the inaugural workshop of the Small-Scale Fisheries Academy (SSF Academy) have articulated their dedication to enhancing the understanding of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act among their fellow fishers within their respective communities. The thirty participants, comprising both men and women from fishing communities across Ghana’s four coastal regions, conveyed this commitment in a communiqué submitted to the Ghana News Agency at the conclusion of the maiden SSF Academy workshop held in Winneba.
They also committed to establishing monthly dialogue platforms aimed at uniting chief fishermen, canoe owners, and other stakeholders in the fishing industry to collaboratively identify and implement solutions to the challenges faced at their landing beaches. Additionally, they intend to raise common concerns with the Ministry and the Fisheries Commission to inform future policy and management decisions.
“This approach will facilitate the local development of initiatives that complement national governance, foster a dynamic relationship between community-based actions, and establish fisheries management that values and incorporates the knowledge and experience of fishers and other stakeholders,” they stated. The training has reportedly enhanced their capacities as community facilitators, equipping them to support their professional groups and communities in assuming a more active role in fisheries co-management.
The communiqué further indicated that the Academy signifies the commencement of a one-year partnership between the non-profit organization Mundus maris asbl and the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG). This partnership aims to mobilize fishing communities to identify and implement locally driven initiatives that complement government efforts to regenerate fisheries resources and safeguard the livelihoods of fishers and fish workers at the landing beaches.
Restoring fish stocks is deemed essential not only for artisanal fisheries but also for the long-term ecological and economic sustainability of Ghana’s semi-industrial and industrial fisheries. They emphasized that years of widespread illegal fishing practices across multiple subsectors have significantly diminished the productivity of what were once abundant marine resources, thereby undermining effective fisheries management. Consequently, Ghana increasingly relies on fish imports, which the Fisheries Commission estimates at approximately 80,000 tons annually.
“We acknowledge the significant efforts being made by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission to mitigate fishing pressure and address overfishing. These efforts include campaigns against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, and the promotion of co-management approaches,” they stated.
Furthermore, they asserted that the SSF Academy partnership represents a timely and valuable contribution that could reinforce and accelerate ongoing initiatives, providing a safe and inclusive space for dialogue where individuals from across the fisheries sector and others interested in its future can exchange experiences, learn from one another, and collaboratively develop practical solutions to shared challenges.
They explained that this collaboration builds on lessons learned from previous development initiatives in Ghana, including the recent training of approximately 300 fisher leaders and community representatives on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which was supported by Blue Ventures Conservation. According to them, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, which provides a legal foundation for fisheries co-management, represents a significant advancement.
They also characterized the partnership between Mundus Maris and CaFGOAG as one that seeks to translate the legal framework into practical action by strengthening co-management institutions, encouraging dialogue, and fostering greater voluntary compliance with fisheries laws and regulations. “The partnership welcomes collaboration with universities, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, traditional authorities, development partners, and others committed to supporting the sustainable future of Ghana’s small-scale fisheries,” they advocated.
Source: Access Agric
