Improving Fishers’ Access to Fisheries Scientific Information is Critical to Achieving Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG)

           June 5, 2023

International Day for the Fight Against IUU Fishing

Press Release

Improving Fishers’ Access to Fisheries Scientific Information Is Critical To Achieving Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The increase in global consumption of aquatic foods in the face of continuous decline in fisheries raises serious concerns and calls for improved fisheries management interventions crucial to restoring ecosystems to a healthy and productive state, reversing the decline in fisheries, and improving fish production in the shortest time feasible. This is important to guarantee catch for artisanal fishers, for the protection of fisheries livelihoods, and an improved standard of living among fisheries-dependent households.

Taking decisive action against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices is essential to achieve Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is paramount for Ghana, as it strives fervently to persuade the European Union to rescind the yellow card that was issued in 2021. It is important to emphasize that transparency in IUU justice administration is critical in the fight against IUU fishing

The 2022-2026 Marine Fisheries Management Plan (MFMP) is a good attempt by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Fisheries Commission (FC) at rebuilding the declined marine fish stock, and it requires the efforts of all stakeholders in the implementation of the plan. With the passage of the Co-management Policy in 2020 and subsequent implementation and formation of Small Pelagics Co-management Committees (SPCCs) in 2023 by the Fisheries Commission and partners, decision-making and fishers’ participation in fisheries governance and management is expected to improve. According to the Fisheries Commission, the co-management policy, among other things, is to create and develop capacities of co-management units to empower the units to develop and implement management plans and enforce national fisheries laws.

However, this requires adequate preparations and capacity building for fishers to participate effectively. It must be said strongly that access to scientific data is equally imperative in the effective participation of fishers in the co-management structures, else the processes of the implementation of the co-management will continue to be top-down approach where the government will continue to push decisions over the co-management structures, as fishers become handicapped in the face of limited access to information to make informed decisions. It is, for instance, most unfortunate that after the successful implementation of the closed season in 2019, 2021, and 2022, fishers do not have access to the assessment reports, leaving fishers doubtful about the benefits of the closed season.

As we commemorate the International Day for the Fight against IUU fishing, we express concerns about the limited access to fisheries scientific information and accordingly recommend as follows:

1. That fishers are actively involved in data collection, and analysis to improve confidence in the scientific data that form the bases for the various management interventions that are implemented
2. That fisheries scientific information, including biological assessment reports, closed season assessment reports, canoe frame survey reports and all other reports, are shared with fishers to enhance fishers’ ability to participate in fisheries dialogues effectively
3. That the Scientific and Technical Committee take steps to publish its findings and recommendations made to the FC to improve transparency and accountability;
4. That the Fisheries Management and Operational Committee (FMOC) is reconstituted to include representatives of all identifiable national fisheries associations to enhance the participation of fishers in the decision-making process; and
5. That the FC and the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU) establish a dialogue platform on IUU justice administration to improve information sharing and transparency

On this occasion of the International Day for the Fight against IUU fishing, CaFGOAG entreats all fishers to comply with the fisheries laws and regulations and to support efforts to address the widespread illegalities in artisanal fisheries    

Nana Kweigyah

(President)

+233 24 690 9643