The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MoFA), Ghana, hosted a high-level side event at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The event, moderated by Professor Berchie Asiedu, Deputy Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, was themed “Bridging Conservation Gaps: Integrating Indigenous Practices for Equitable Fisheries in Ghana” and convened global stakeholders, policymakers, civil society, and development partners to explore inclusive approaches to ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that the session highlighted Ghana’s leadership in integrating traditional knowledge systems into formal governance frameworks and reaffirming the country’s commitment to a more equitable and resilient blue economy.
Madam Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in a keynote address, called for the embracing of indigenous wisdom, emphasising the need to harmonise scientific approaches with Indigenous ecological wisdom to address pressing ocean challenges.
“The fisheries sector is vital to Ghana’s economy, food security, and identity. Yet it faces immense pressures from overfishing, IUU practices, and climate change. “To bridge the gap between traditional stewardship and formal governance, we must recognise indigenous systems as central to sustainable and equitable outcomes,” she said.
The minister highlighted centuries-old practices like taboo fishing zones, sacred groves, and closed fishing days, practised by Ghanaian fishing communities, as critical tools for conservation that must be formally documented and preserved.
She further outlined Ghana’s implementation of the Co-Management Policy for the Fisheries Sector, including forming Community-Based Fisheries Management Committees (CBFMCs) and strong collaboration with national fisher associations such as the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council and the National Fish Processors and Traders Association.
She disclosed that in a significant move to institutionalise the role of traditional knowledge in fisheries governance, President John Dramani Mahama has appointed a fisher an advisor on indigenous knowledge to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
This appointment, she noted, strongly signals political will and national commitment to elevating indigenous knowledge systems in environmental and marine policy.
The side event recommended that there is an urgent need for systematic recording and integration of indigenous knowledge into national knowledge systems, and it be woven into national planning and regulatory frameworks.
It also advocated for formal curriculum reform to ensure intergenerational transfer of indigenous fishing wisdom while stressing the importance of recognising the critical role inland fisheries play in Ghana’s blue economy narrative.
It further advocated for greater involvement of local fishers and communities in policy development, evaluation of social costs in which development planning must consider the socio-economic impact on vulnerable fishing populations, and the urge for a balance between scientific data and traditional knowledge in fisheries planning.
Participants also called for improved partnerships between the government, academia, civil society, and indigenous communities.
Some international panelists that participated in the side event include Prof. Rashid Sumaila, University of British Columbia, Canada; Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice Chancellor, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Ghana; Dr Kristin Kleisner, Environmental Defence Fund (EDF), USA; Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, University of St. Andrews, Scotland; and Nana Jojo Solomon, President, Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council.
The panel advocated for cross-disciplinary approaches to fisheries governance, calling for more inclusive research and validating indigenous conservation science.
Mr Murtala Muhammed, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, in closing remarks, applauded the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture for championing such a transformative dialogue on indigenous practices, underscoring the importance of blending scientific research with community wisdom to address biodiversity loss, climate threats, and livelihood insecurities.
“The health of our oceans is inextricably linked to the well-being of our people. “We must adopt a holistic approach that blends modern science, local innovation, and inclusive governance to build a resilient blue economy,” he said.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the 30×30 global target, protecting 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030, and called for greater international collaboration, increased investment in ocean science, and support for community-led conservation.
The session concluded with renewed calls for development partners, international institutions, and regional organisations to invest in indigenous and community-led marine conservation, support the documentation and validation of local knowledge, and promote inclusive and gender-responsive ocean governance.
By Laudia Sawer, GNA
