On August 19, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama signed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), into law, repealing the 23-year-old Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625). This new legislation aims to reset Ghana's ocean governance, consolidating fragmented fisheries laws and redefining ownership, benefits, and protection of the country's 550km coastline. The Act addresses critical failures of the previous law, including a shrinking space for Ghanaian fishermen and ownership opacity that allowed foreign industrial vessels to operate under Ghanaian flags.
The Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), had several shortcomings, including reserving only 6 nautical miles for over 2.7 million artisanal fishers, which was easily encroached upon by industrial trawlers. The Act also lacked mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership, fueling illegal transshipment known locally as Saiko. Furthermore, fines under Act 625 were negligible compared to the profits of illegal fishing, leading to a significant decline in fish stocks from 140,000 tonnes in the 2000s to under 30,000 tonnes today.
The new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), is built on five decisive shifts. Firstly, it expands the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) from 6 to 12 nautical miles, exclusively reserved for Ghanaian-owned small-scale canoes and small semi-industrial vessels. This move doubles the protected fishing ground and secures the primary breeding area for pelagic stocks. Additionally, the Act requires every fishing company to disclose its ultimate beneficial owners to the Fisheries Commission, ending the use of Ghanaian proxies by foreign operators.
Act 1146 introduces Ghana's toughest fisheries sanctions regime, with fines of up to $500,000 for Ghanaian vessels and up to $2,000,000 for foreign vessels. The law also provides for forfeiture of vessel, catch, and gear, and mandates Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) on all industrial vessels. Furthermore, the closed fishing season is now statutory under Section 47 with criminal liability, aiming to prevent overfishing and protect fish stocks.
The new Act also focuses on aquaculture development, dedicating an entire Part to it. It establishes Aquaculture Development Zones, a Fisheries Development Fund, a Fisheries Research Fund, and provides legal backing for a Fisheries College to train the next generation. Moreover, the Act empowers the Minister to declare Marine Protected Areas, with Cape Three Points identified as the first. This move aims to promote sustainable fishing practices and protect Ghana's marine biodiversity.
The passage of Act 1146 has been hailed as a significant step towards reclaiming natural resources for citizens, formalizing the informal economy, and enforcing sovereignty over national waters. The Mahama administration, led by Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Hon. Emelia Arthur, has demonstrated its commitment to fisheries reform, a process that has been on the table for over ten years. The success of the Act will depend on its effective implementation, including the rapid passage of Legislative Instrument (LI) and investment in at-sea surveillance capacity.
The implementation of Act 1146 is expected to have a positive impact on Ghana's fishing industry, particularly for artisanal fishers and local communities. The Act's provisions aim to promote sustainable fishing practices, reduce illegal fishing, and increase transparency and accountability in the industry. With the European Union's Yellow Card warning lifted, Ghana's seafood exports and jobs are expected to be protected, and the country's fishing industry is poised for a reset.
Key points
- The new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), aims to reclaim natural resources for citizens and promote sustainable fishing practices.
- The Act introduces Ghana's toughest fisheries sanctions regime, with significant fines for illegal fishing.
- The implementation of Act 1146 is expected to protect Ghana's seafood exports and jobs, and promote sustainable fishing practices.
