IUU fishing surges in Volta waters as CIMAG raises alarm                                       

By Evelyn ARTHUR

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is resurging in the country’s eastern coastal waters, particularly in the Volta Region, raising serious concerns about sustainability of marine resources and the future of artisanal fishing livelihoods.

Fresh findings by the Centre for International Maritime Affairs, Ghana (CIMAG) show a worrying increase in the use of banned and destructive fishing methods, despite ongoing interventions by government agencies and maritime stakeholders to secure the country’s territorial waters.

According to CIMAG, routine monitoring has uncovered growing reliance on dynamite fishing, calcium carbide, light-fishing and monofilament nets – practices outlawed under Ghana’s fisheries laws because of their severe ecological impact.

While industrial-scale illegal fishing by large foreign and local vessels remains a challenge, CIMAG reports that artisanal fishers themselves are increasingly turning to illicit methods – deepening the crisis from within coastal communities.

Surveillance data indicate that fishers operating from Ada, Tema, Ningo and Prampram are among the most frequent offenders in Volta waters. The organisation further alleges that some offenders act with the tacit support or connivance of local opinion leaders, undermining enforcement efforts and weakening community-level compliance.

During a recent monitoring patrol, a taskforce arrested a canoe from Ada allegedly engaged in light-fishing in Woe waters within the Anlo district. The suspects were handed over to relevant authorities but the case was later referred to the police, following reported interference by some elders of the Woe community.

Confirming the development, Anloga District Police Commander Superintendent Benjamin Samani said the case is ready for prosecution and will proceed as soon as the court resumes from recess.

“But for the court being on recess, the suspects would have already been processed. I do not delay cases. As soon as the court resumes, they will be arraigned to allow the law to take its course,” he said, stressing that no individual or authority would be allowed to compromise the process.

However, independent checks suggest that some influential individuals, including traditional leaders, are pushing for an out-of-court settlement – a move, critics argue, that weakens deterrence and encourages repeat offences.

The resurgence of IUU fishing has wider economic implications. The European Union estimates that IUU fishing costs West Africa billions of dollars each year, depriving coastal states of revenue, undermining food security and accelerating degradation of marine ecosystems.

For Ghana, the stakes are high. Fish provides a major source of protein for millions of households and supports thousands of jobs along the value chain, from fishing and processing to transport and trade. Continued use of destructive methods threatens to deplete fish stocks, reduce biodiversity and deepen poverty in coastal communities.

Experts warn that without stronger enforcement and a firm stance against community complicity, current efforts will fall short. They argue that policing alone is insufficient and must be complemented by education, economic alternatives and active involvement of traditional authorities.

Maritime analysts and environmental advocates are therefore calling for tighter collaboration among law enforcement agencies, local leaders, civil society and fishing communities to protect Ghana’s marine resources before the damage becomes irreversible – and before the economic and social costs spiral further out of control.

The post IUU fishing surges in Volta waters as CIMAG raises alarm                                        appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story