Parliament on Wednesday passed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, marking a major step toward modernising Ghana’s legal framework for managing its fisheries and aquaculture resources.
The new legislation seeks to promote effective governance, long-term sustainability, and economic viability of a sector that plays a critical role in national development, food security, and foreign exchange earnings.
Introduced by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, on June 3, 2025, the bill was reviewed by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, chaired by Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw. The committee’s report emphasised the urgent need to revise Ghana’s outdated fisheries laws to address current environmental and economic challenges.
Also Read: Hawa Koomson breaks silence on Ablekuma Chaos: Says pepper spray was for self-defence
At the heart of the new legislation is a commitment to sustainable fishing. The bill consolidates and updates existing laws, introduces tougher penalties for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and provides for the establishment of a Fisheries Commission to oversee conservation, management, and utilisation of Ghana’s aquatic resources.
One of the key features is the introduction of an Electronic Monitoring System aimed at ensuring traceability of fish products, a measure that aligns Ghana with international standards set by the European Union and the United States—two key markets for Ghana’s seafood exports.
Ghana was issued a yellow card warning by the European Commission in 2021 for failing to take sufficient action against IUU fishing. Without legal reform, the country risked receiving a red card, which could lead to a ban on fish exports to Europe, potentially costing Ghana an estimated $425.9 million in lost revenue.
The committee report also noted that Ghana’s previous laws, particularly the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), and its amendments, lacked provisions for dealing with modern fisheries management issues, such as aquaculture regulation, climate change adaptation, post-harvest losses, and inland fisheries development.
The passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, is therefore seen as both a national and international necessity. It reflects global best practices and recommendations from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank’s West African Regional Fisheries Programme.
“These reforms will help Ghana meet its obligations under international agreements like the Port State Measures Agreement and strengthen the legal tools required to protect marine ecosystems, enhance livelihoods, and maintain access to high-value export markets,” the report stated.
Once assented to by the President, the bill will usher in a new era for fisheries and aquaculture governance in Ghana.