By Savannah Pokuaah Duah
In a landmark decision, the Parliament of Ghana has officially passed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, a crucial step towards modernizing the governance of the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The bill, presented by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture,Emelia Arthur,on June 3, 2025, underwent thorough scrutiny by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs before receiving full Parliamentary approval.
This new legislation aims to enhance the sustainable management and conservation of Ghana’s vital fisheries resources, which play a pivotal role in ensuring food security and supporting livelihoods across the nation.
Firstly, the bill consolidates and reviews existing regulations governing fisheries and aquaculture, streamlining the legal framework for better governance.
Secondly, a new Fisheries Commission will be established to oversee the long-term management and development of the sector.
Thirdly, the legislation introduces electronic monitoring systems to align with European Union and United States requirements for legally sourced seafood.
Finally, stricter penalties against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices will be implemented to combat these pressing issues.
This legislative move comes at a crucial time for Ghana’s fisheries sector, which has been grappling with challenges related to IUU fishing. The existing legal framework, established under the Fisheries Act of 2002 (Act 625), has been deemed outdated and insufficient to tackle these pressing issues.
In 2021, Ghana received a “yellow card” warning from the European Commission due to inadequate measures against IUU fishing, with the potential for a “red card” ban that could result in losses of up to $425.9 million in fish export revenue.
Once signed into law by the President, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, is expected to usher in a new era of transparency, compliance, and sustainability in Ghana’s fisheries governance, ultimately benefiting the economy and livelihoods of countless Ghanaians reliant on this vital sector.
