The projected cost of US$2.5 million, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), is required to properly address and remove the threat of illicit, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) in the nation's seas.
During the 2023 Ocean Conference in Panama, Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson said: "MoFAD is dedicated to ensuring that 100 percent of industrial vessels with fishing licenses are equipped with electronic monitoring devices, including the deployment of cameras to observe and record actions onboard.
In order to fulfill this goal through collaborations between the ministry, industry, and development partners, Madam Koomson stated that an investment of up to US$2.5 million could be necessary.
The deployment and testing of these systems, which are anticipated to start in the second quarter of this year, will guarantee that commercial fishing vessels follow all applicable laws and regulations.
Due to its potential to undermine local and national efforts to manage and conserve fish supplies, IUU fishing continues to be one of the biggest dangers to Ghana's maritime ecosystems.
The issue has been a factor in the decline of fish stocks, as well as a danger to marine biodiversity, livelihoods, and an aggravation of poverty and food insecurity.
IUU fishing is thought to cost the nation about $200 million per year, according to statistics from the Environment and Natural Resource Research Institute (ENRRI—EfD Ghana).
Yet, as Madam Koomson emphasised, when the technologies are implemented, they will not only increase transparency but also guarantee that these vessels are fishing within the bounds of the law.
According to Ghanaian legislation, unlawful fishing practices like "saiko" are punishable by fines ranging from $100,000 to $2,000,000, with a minimum of $1,000,000, for carrying aboard young fish, using forbidden fishing gear, or fishing in restricted areas (e.g., the inshore exclusive zone reserved for artisanal fishers). For repeat offenses, the minimum penalty might rise to US$4 million.
Nonetheless, many criminals are able to avoid such a severe penalty by finding other options.
During a symposium for stakeholders in the catch fisheries conducted in January of this year, the ENRRI-EfD Ghana informed the B&FT that many of these violators do not pay the necessary fines as they discover methods to circumvent the rules.
The socioeconomic growth of Ghana is substantially influenced by the fishing industry. In the value chain, three million people are reportedly employed, and the industry's share of GDP is roughly 1.2 percent.
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