The Chief Fisherman of Tema Awudum, Nii Ashitey Odamtey II, has issued a stark warning about the alarming rise of illegal fishing along Ghana’s coast, revealing that over 80 percent of the country’s coastal communities are engaged in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
Speaking at a public durbar held at the Tema Canoe Basin, Nii Odamtey cautioned that the persistent use of unapproved nets, chemicals, and other destructive methods threatens the future of Ghana’s marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of coastal dwellers.
“If this trend continues, we risk collapsing our fisheries sector,” he warned. “Only 20 percent of the coastline is not engaged in illegal fishing — and even they have largely stopped fishing due to the sector’s many challenges.”
The event, themed “Sustaining Our Seas: Combating Illegal Fishing Through Community Action,” was organized by final-year students of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) as part of their capstone project to promote responsible fishing practices.
Officials from the Fisheries Commission, led by Eric Omari, used the occasion to educate attendees on the dangers of IUU fishing and highlighted the need for safer fish handling and environmentally sustainable fishing practices.
Fish processors and artisanal fishers who spoke at the durbar shifted blame toward industrial trawlers, accusing them of playing a bigger role in depleting Ghana’s marine resources. They appealed to government to enforce stricter regulations on trawlers and introduce alternative livelihood programs to support struggling coastal communities.
Philip Azu, a member of the AUCB student campaign team, emphasized the importance of grassroots advocacy, urging the government to act swiftly to protect Ghana’s fisheries from total collapse.
The event brought together stakeholders from the fishing industry, community leaders, academia, and the media, all united in their call for urgent reforms to preserve Ghana’s marine environment for future generations.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Philip Azu