Accra: The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) has called for stronger collaboration among institutions and stakeholders to improve marine spatial planning and sustainable management of marine ecosystems in Ghana and the sub-region.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Gaston Djihinto, the Secretary General of the FCWC, highlighted the importance of coordinated data sharing and regional cooperation during the opening of a National Workshop on Marine Protected Areas and Data Collection for Marine Spatial Planning in Ghana. He stressed that the initiative's success relies on effective collaboration among data-holding institutions, robust information-sharing mechanisms, and a collective commitment to regional coordination and solidarity.
The workshop gathered representatives from public and private institutions, technical experts, development partners, and environmental stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for preserving marine ecosystems and enhancing marine spatial planning systems. Dr. Djihinto expressed gratitude to the Ghanaian government and partner institutions for their ongoing support in managing marine and coastal resources sustainably within the sub-region.
Acknowledging the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Dr. Djihinto noted the FCWC's involvement in a Global Environment Facility-funded project titled 'Using Marine Spatial Planning in the Gulf of Guinea to Implement Payments for Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Coastal Solutions (MarEcoPlan)'. He emphasized that the workshop's timing was crucial due to the mounting challenges associated with preserving marine and coastal ecosystems and the sustainable use of marine spaces.
Dr. Djihinto explained that the workshop discussions would focus on marine protected areas and the identification, validation, and harmonization of coastal and marine ecosystem data necessary to establish a reliable database for effective marine spatial planning.
'The discussions and technical deliberations planned over the coming days will provide an opportunity not only to address issues relating to marine protected areas but also to identify, validate, and harmonize coastal and marine ecosystem data essential for the establishment of a reliable database to support marine spatial planning,' he stated.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would generate meaningful recommendations and produce a practical roadmap to guide future marine spatial planning activities in Ghana and the Gulf of Guinea region. Dr. Djihinto urged participants to actively contribute to the discussions to ensure productive outcomes that support sustainable marine governance and environmental protection efforts.