In a bid to balance sustainable fishing practices with the economic needs of coastal communities, the government has announced that marine canoe artisanal fishers will be exempted from the 2025 closed fishing season.
The exemption was revealed by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, during the official announcement of this year’s closed fishing season.
The 2025 closure will begin on July 1 and is expected to last for about two months, in line with Ghana’s broader marine conservation goals.
The closed season, a key component of the government’s fisheries management strategy, is aimed at rebuilding depleted fish stocks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country’s marine resources.
While canoe-based artisanal fishers will be allowed to continue fishing during the period, the Minister stressed that this exemption does not relieve them from adhering to existing traditional and statutory fisheries regulations.
“These measures are consistent with Ghana’s national fisheries strategy and global best practices for sustainable resource management,” she said.
“Marine canoe artisanal fishers are exempted from this year’s closed season. However, this exemption does not absolve them from complying with other regulations,” she added.
The exemption is seen as a targeted measure to cushion coastal livelihoods, especially in communities heavily reliant on artisanal fishing for food security and income. Many canoe fishers operate on a small scale and have limited alternative income sources during the off-season.
The Ministry emphasized the need for responsible fishing practices even among exempted groups, noting that enforcement of rules on gear types, catch sizes, and fishing zones would be intensified to prevent overexploitation.
The closed season applies primarily to semi-industrial and industrial trawlers and other commercial fishing fleets, which have a larger ecological footprint and are believed to contribute significantly to fish stock depletion.
Ghana’s fisheries sector supports over three million people along the value chain and contributes significantly to food security and rural employment. However, the sector continues to grapple with issues such as overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and declining fish catches.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with all stakeholders, like artisanal fishers, industry players, and coastal communities, to ensure that policy interventions support both environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience.
The Ministry said it will also continue to monitor the impacts of the closed season and adjust its strategy as necessary to maintain a balance between resource conservation and livelihood protection.
