Fisheries Ministry Revokes Licenses of 4 Vessels Over Illegal Fishing Practices

Apr 1, 2025 - 23:02

Emelia Arthus is Ghana's Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture

Accra, Ghana - 01 April, 2025 - Ghana's fisheries sector has been plagued by illegal fishing practices, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has taken a significant step to address this issue.

Four industrial trawl vessels, including Meng Xin 10, Florence 2, Long Xiang 607, and Long Xiang 608, have had their fishing licenses suspended for 12 months due to repeated violations of the Fisheries Act and Regulations.

These vessels were found guilty of unauthorized transshipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones, and harvesting juvenile fish, which pose serious threats to Ghana's marine ecosystem and compromise sustainable fisheries management.

The Ministry in a statement, has warned that continued violations will attract severe sanctions, including license suspensions, cancellations, and legal action.

“Continued violations will attract sanctions, including license suspensions, cancellations, and legal action,” the Ministry warned. It also urged all fishing operators—industrial, semi-industrial, and artisanal—to comply with the law.''

Ghana's fisheries sector is critical to the country's food security and economy, with fish providing 60% of animal protein consumed yearly.

However, illegal fishing practices, particularly transshipment (locally known as Saiko), have depleted fish stocks, eroded artisanal fishers' incomes, and threatened national food security.