The Commission, leading the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated, IUU fishing worldwide, has issued a warning to Ghana that it risks being identified as a non-cooperating country in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated, fishing.
The decision is based on various shortcomings in Ghana’s ability to comply with its duties under international law as flag, port, coastal or market State.
The Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, VirginijusSinkevičius, said Ghana plays an important role in fisheries governance in West Africa.
Therefore, they stand ready to work with Ghana to address the threats IUU fishing poses to the sustainability of fish stocks, coastal communities, food security and the profits of those fishermen and women who follow the rules. He said Sustainable fisheries is key to better ocean governance.
Ghana is therefore encouraged to take the necessary actions to abide by its international obligations in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The identified shortcomings include illegal transshipments at sea of large quantities of undersized juvenile pelagic species between industrial trawl vessels and canoes in Ghanaian waters, deficiencies in the monitoring, control and surveillance of the fleet and a legal framework that is not aligned with the relevant international obligations Ghana has signed up to.
The sanctions imposed by Ghana to vessels engaging in or supporting IUU fishing activities are not effective and not an adequate deterrent. Ghana should therefore ensure effective monitoring and control of the activities of its fishing vessels and adequate implementation of its enforcement and sanctioning system.
It should also ensure a sound fisheries management system to prevent fish stemming from IUU fishing activities from reaching its market or others, including the European one.