The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has organised a two-day consultative engagement with stakeholders in the fisheries sector to solicit their inputs on the Draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations.

The Regulations had been developed pursuant to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which was enacted to provide a modern and comprehensive legal framework for the sustainable management, conservation, development and utilisation of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture resources.

The workshop, held in Takoradi and facilitated by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), brought together fisheries associations, civil society organisations (CSOs), fish processors, representatives from metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies, security service officials, state institutions, among others.

It provided a platform for participants to review and examine the provisions of the draft regulations, discuss implementation issues, identify any gaps or inconsistencies and make recommendations to strengthen the regulations.

The Deputy Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission in Charge of Technical Operations, Professor Berchie Asiedu, said in accordance with the provisions of Act 1146, the ministry had prepared a Draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations to operationalise it and provide detailed procedures and standards for its effective implementation.

He said the Regulations covered key areas such as fisheries management, marine and inland fisheries, aquaculture development, licensing and registration, monitoring, control and surveillance.

Others are fisheries conservation measures, post-harvest management, fish quality assurance, enforcement, offences and penalties, and other issues necessary for the effective administration of the Act.

Prof. Asiedu noted that the consultative engagement was, therefore, a vital process in seeking the input of all stakeholders to ensure that the Regulations developed were practical, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

He said: “The processes stipulate that once we have a draft, it should be subject to stakeholders’ inputs before validation, finalisation, and submission for the appropriate legislative processes.”

He stated that similar events would be held in other parts of the country to help ensure broader consultation with all relevant stakeholders so that the final Regulations effectively supported the implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).

Prof. Asiedu expressed gratitude to the participants for their views, comments and recommendations on the draft regulations, saying their contributions would help streamline processes to strengthen Ghana’s fisheries ecosystems.

The Country Manager for EJF, Mr Theophilus Boachie-Yiadom, commended the Fisheries Ministry and the Fisheries Commission for developing the draft regulations to ensure the effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).