The Concerned CSOs, Scientists, and Academics, Fishers Association, under the Improving Fisheries Governance (IFG) Project, say the decision to exempt artisanal fishers from the annual fishing closed season contradicts scientific evidence and threatens Ghana’s fisheries sector
Overfishing, overcapacity, and illegal fishing have led to alarming declines in fish populations, endangering livelihoods and food security requiring urgent action to avoid total collapse, with devastating economic, nutritional, and social consequences.
The group has urged the government to reconsider for the long-term benefit of the industry, coastal communities, and national food security since the closed season had become a proven conservation tool.
They argued that seasonal closures had long been used in Ghana for resource management: Volta River estuary (December–March), Pra River estuary (May–July), Densu River estuary (November–April) and Benya estuary (June–July).
Meanwhile, Ghana ’s wildlife sector enforced a closed season from August to December to protect game species just as farmers on their own allow land to lie fallow to restore fertility, the ocean needed time to replenish.
Data showed that small pelagic (Sardinella, Mackerel, and Anchovies) account for 70 percent of artisanal fish landings, providing affordable protein for millions meaning that their eventual extinction would have severe repercussions for over three million Ghanaians.
By the late 1990s, Ghana landed about 270,000 metric tons of small pelagic fish annually. By 2016, landings had plummeted to 16,000 metric tons—a clear sign of collapse.
The closed season thus supported and made more secured an avenue for spawning between June and September, where fishes migrated to spawn and is also a period, they became easy targets for artisanal fishers and most fishes landed around the period scientific studies confirmed landing with eggs.
A single pregnant fish can lay up to 50,000 eggs. Harvesting them before they spawn destroyed future generations of fish, threatening long-term sustainability.
To rebuild stocks effectively, the closed season must apply to all fleets and not only industrial trawlers as selective enforcement would undermine its success.
Artisanal fishers have previously complied, recognizing its necessity and so the current exemption policy must be reconsidered.
Nana Abakah, a fisherman at New Takoradi, said the closed season was good to even allow them to rest from all year-round labour.
He rather urged the government to adopt some social protection schemes financial support aside the food supplies during closures.
Maame Salamatu, a trader in the value chain, noted that the government should also impress on fishers to stop illegal fishing practices beyond just closed seasons.
Also, the Fisheries Act of 2002 (Act 625) empowered the Fisheries Commission to declare closed seasons to protect fish stocks.
Since 2021, Ghana had enforced a one-month closed season for artisanal fishers (July 1–31) and a two-month closure for industrial trawlers (July 1–August 31).
Most fishermen and processors acknowledged the benefits, though they called for stricter year-round enforcement against illegal practices.
By Mildred Siabi-Mensah