New Fisheries Act could be ready by end of year, says Angela Lamptey

Senior lecturer, Department of Marine and Fisheries Science at the University of Ghana, Dr Angela Lamptey says a new fisheries Act could be ready by the end of this year.

The comes after the EU Commission refused to lift the yellow card first issued to the country in 2013 and reintroduced in 2021, under the European Union’s Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing.

The EU identified several gaps in Ghana’s Fisheries Act including low fines handed over to vessels that flout the EU commission’s regulation which are considered not biting enough to prevent the illegalities in the fisheries industry.

Ghana’s fishery sector supports the livelihoods of millions of people, but persistent IUU fishing practices, including opaque corporate structures, which protects beneficial owners, have had severe impact on fish populations, which resulted in an European Commission warning (yellow card) in 2021.

Lamptey explained the implications the country could experience should the EU’s threat to ban fish exports from Ghana take off.

Speaking in an interview with Asaase Business during a meet-up with a section of coastal communities at the University of Ghana, she outlined some measures including a review of the industry’s legal regimes including increasing fines from one million to two million dollars on vessels.

Lamptey was optimistic the EU would review its position on Ghana’s yellow cards.

“We are reviewing our legal regimes… at the moment. We are coming up with a new Fisheries Act which we are hoping that it will be ready before the year ends. We are also piloting an electronic monitoring system (EMS) where every activity at sea is being monitored. The pilot [phase] ended in April and we are looking at a full roll out from July or by August… “she added.

Some fishermen present at the function lamented the flagrant disregard of local laws by foreign vessels which they said is perpetrated under the influence of some politicians.

Robert Ocansey the Greater Accra regional chairman for the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association said the political will to implement the law is missing.

He also stated that the real subsidies from premixed fuel meant for fishermen is eluding them. We have a vessel coming from China but is licensed with the help of politicians in Ghana.

‘’When they flout the laws, the politicians step in and claim ownership of the vessels, and so whatever revenue is due the state through fines against affected vessels is not paid,” he added.

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