Parliament approves Fisheries Bill to combat illegal fishing

Parliament has passed the much-anticipated Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, paving the way for the transformation of Ghana’s fisheries sector through modern regulation and sustainability-focused reforms.

The new legislation aims to revamp outdated laws, promote responsible fishing, and ensure Ghana maintains access to lucrative international markets, particularly the European Union and the United States.

A key highlight of the bill is the introduction of an Electronic Monitoring System, designed to verify that seafood exported from Ghana is legally and sustainably sourced—an important step to align with global trade requirements.

Once signed into law by the President, the bill will establish a Fisheries Commission to lead the long-term conservation, development, and management of fisheries and aquaculture resources. It also introduces tougher sanctions against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a growing threat to marine ecosystems and lawful industry players.

Ghana’s current legal instrument, the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), has been criticized for its failure to effectively combat IUU fishing. In 2021, the European Commission issued Ghana a "yellow card" warning due to weak enforcement measures. A failure to reform could have led to a “red card,” banning exports to the EU and costing the country nearly $426 million in lost revenues.

The new bill, introduced by Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, on June 3, 2025, was reviewed by the Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs before its passage. It represents a proactive effort to secure Ghana’s place in the global seafood trade while protecting marine life for future generations.