Protecting the Lifeline: Ghana's Quest to Save its Oceans

Ghana is taking bold steps to protect its oceans, which are facing unprecedented threats from illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and climate change.

With a 550-kilometer coastline, Ghana's fisheries sector is a vital part of the country's economy, employing around 20% of the labor force. However, the sector is under threat from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as plastic pollution and climate change.

To address these challenges, Ghana has joined the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, committing to sustainably manage 100% of its ocean area by 2025. The country is also developing a Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) to implement the Ocean Panel's transformations agenda.

In a significant move, Ghana held its first National Blue Economy Summit, supported by UNDP Ghana and other partners. The summit aimed to raise national awareness about the importance of ocean action for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to mobilize action for sustainable management of national waters.

Ghana's efforts to protect its oceans have been praised by experts, who say that the country's commitment to sustainable ocean management is a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to create widespread momentum for ocean management.

As Ghana continues to work towards protecting its oceans, the country's example serves as a reminder of the importance of collective action to address the global ocean crisis.

Reference

Catherine Adodoadji-Dogbe: UNDP 2024, Awakening New Depths of Sustainable Ocean Management

Source : Florence Kyei / Lead News Online

The author is an Health & Climate Journalist and Editor at Lead News Online.

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