Tema: The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has exempted canoe fishing operators from the 2026 Marine Fisheries Closed Season while instituting strict measures to regulate their activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, made this known while announcing the 2026 closed season at the Tema Canoe Basin. She stated that the decision was critical to the role of canoe fisheries in Ghana's food security and the economic well-being of Ghanaians. Canoe fisheries supply approximately 80 percent of locally consumed fish, providing 60 percent of the nation's animal protein.
Madam Arthur explained that exempting canoe fishers was intended to prevent economic hardship and avoid post-closure fishing pressures that could undermine broader conservation efforts. She highlighted the contribution of canoe fisheries to sustainability through the designation of Ghana's first marine protected area, where traditional fishing grounds have been designated as regulated fishing zones.
She further mentioned that the Ministry was collaborating with tracking and communication systems to improve communication with canoe fishers while at sea, enabling a quick response in case of any challenges. Outlining the closed season schedule, she stated that industrial tuna vessels were already observing their closed season from March 17 to April 30, 2026. Industrial trawlers would observe a two-month closed season from July 01 to August 31, 2026, while semi-industrial vessels would observe a one-month closed season from July 01 to July 31, 2026.
Madam Arthur noted that the Ministry would collaborate with stakeholders to roll out a comprehensive fishers' protection package, covering vessel licensing, insurance for fishing assets, social security arrangements, and transparent access to fisheries subsidies, including premix fuel. She emphasized that canoe fishers must comply fully with all fisheries regulations, highlighting that illegal, unreported, and unregulated practices, such as light fishing and dynamite fishing, would not be tolerated.
She also noted that enforcement would be strengthened through intensified monitoring, control, and surveillance, with violations prosecuted under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2025. The government has acknowledged the role of canoe fishers in sustainable fisheries through the establishment of Ghana's first Marine Protected Area, balancing conservation with continued access for local fishers.
Madam Arthur called on all stakeholders, including fishers, processors, traders, traditional authorities, and enforcement agencies, to support these measures. Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Member of Parliament for Tema East, indicated that the initiatives by the ministry aimed at preventing the depletion of fisheries resources while ensuring abundance in the sea and promoting the smooth sale and distribution of premix fuel, in line with government policy.
Mr. Odamtten urged participants to engage constructively, encouraging them to listen attentively and present their concerns to the appropriate authorities without confrontation. He noted that these measures were designed to strengthen the fisheries sector for the overall benefit of the country.
As part of the announcement, an open forum was held to allow stakeholders to express their grievances, with the majority of concerns raised by trawler operators and artisanal fishers. Premix fuel dealers were directed to account for their operations, with authorities warning that any dealer who failed to submit the required bank statements within 24 hours would face suspension.