Parliament Passes Landmark Fisheries Bill to Protect Ghana’s Marine Resources and Secure Global Market Access

Parliament has approved the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025 — a major legislative milestone aimed at modernising Ghana’s fisheries sector and enhancing its sustainability and global competitiveness.

The bill introduces a robust legal framework to govern the development, conservation, and regulation of the fisheries and aquaculture industry, a sector critical to Ghana’s economy through job creation, food security, and foreign exchange earnings.

A key objective of the bill is to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through tougher penalties and the introduction of an Electronic Monitoring System. This move is in response to growing international pressure, particularly from the European Union and the United States, which require legal and traceable sourcing of seafood.

Preventing Trade Sanctions

Ghana’s current Fisheries Act, enacted in 2002, has been criticised as outdated and ineffective in addressing modern challenges. In 2021, the European Commission issued Ghana a “yellow card” for failing to adequately combat IUU fishing — a warning that could escalate to a “red card” and an export ban. Such a sanction could cost Ghana nearly $426 million in lost revenue.

To avoid this, the new bill consolidates and reforms existing laws and regulations, setting up a Fisheries Commission to oversee long-term resource management and aligning local legislation with international commitments such as the Port State Measures Agreement.

Driving Sustainable Development

The bill was presented to Parliament by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Emelia Arthur on June 3, 2025, and reviewed by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. The committee’s report, signed by Chairman Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, emphasised the urgency of legal reforms to address current gaps in areas like aquaculture practices, post-harvest handling, inland fisheries, gear technology, and climate resilience.

Earlier reviews by the World Bank and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted inconsistencies in Ghana’s fragmented legal structure. The new law addresses these shortcomings by providing a unified, modernised legal framework that supports long-term ecological sustainability and market viability.

Once signed into law by the President, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, will be a game-changer — positioning Ghana’s fisheries sector for future growth, international compliance, and environmental stewardship.