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The newly passed bill aims to address critical gaps by modernizing Ghana's fisheries legal framework.
Ghana Parliament Passes Landmark Fisheries Bill to Combat IUU Fishing and Boost Sustainability
GHANA
Friday, July 18, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
Ghana’s Parliament has unanimously approved the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, a critical legislative overhaul designed to modernize the nation's fisheries sector. The new bill aims to enhance governance, promote sustainable practices, and introduce stricter penalties for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a move essential for safeguarding Ghana’s vital seafood exports.
 ACCRA – In a significant step towards securing the future of its marine resources and a crucial part of its economy, Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025. This landmark legislation is set to establish a modern legal framework for improved governance, development, and sustainability within Ghana's vital fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
The new bill specifically consolidates and reviews existing laws to ensure the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. A key provision includes the implementation of an Electronic Monitoring System, designed to meet stringent European Union and United States market requirements for legally sourced seafood.
Upon receiving presidential assent, the bill will formally establish a Fisheries Commission, tasked with the long-term conservation, development, management, and utilization of Ghana’s aquatic resources. Critically, it introduces stricter penalties for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a persistent challenge that has plagued the nation's fishing industry.
Averting "Red Card" Sanctions
The urgency behind this legislative reform is underscored by Ghana’s recent history with international fisheries compliance. The country's previous legal framework, the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), was deemed outdated and insufficient to effectively combat IUU fishing. This inadequacy led to Ghana being issued a “yellow card” by the European Commission in 2021.
Officials have warned that a failure to update the legal regime could have escalated this to a “red card,” triggering a devastating ban on the export of fish and fishery products to the lucrative European market. Such a sanction could cost Ghana an estimated $425.9 million in lost revenue, a significant blow to the national economy.
.png) The bill was originally presented to Parliament by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, on June 3, 2025, before being referred to the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs for thorough consideration.
Robust Framework for National Development
According to the committee’s report, signed by its Chairman, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are indispensable to Ghana's national development, contributing significantly to job and wealth creation, poverty reduction, GDP, and foreign exchange earnings.
 The report stressed that sustainable management and exploitation of these resources necessitate a robust legal framework capable of governing fishing activities, regulating resource extraction, and ensuring compliance with both national and international environmental standards.
While Ghana's existing legal regime included the Fisheries Act, 2002, and subsequent amendments and regulations, it had not undergone substantial revisions to address new challenges in sustainable fisheries management. Reviews by the World Bank’s West African Regional Fisheries Programme in 2015 and the FAO in 2019 had consistently highlighted significant legal gaps and inconsistencies resulting from piecemeal amendments.
The newly passed bill aims to fill these critical gaps by modernizing Ghana’s fisheries legal framework, supporting sustainable resource management, enhancing food security, and aligning the nation with global fisheries governance standards.
“These legislative reforms are designed to align Ghana with international fisheries management obligations, ensuring both ecological and economic sustainability in the long term,” the committee's report concluded, signaling a renewed commitment to responsible and profitable fisheries for Ghana.
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