DWFV Project Hosts Key Stakeholders in a Meeting to Strategize Greater National Ownership and Control of the Industrial Fisheries Sector

Accra, Ghana — November 12, 2024

Today, industrial sector stakeholders and related agencies gathered at La Palm Hotel in Accra to validate a strategic draft aimed at enhancing national ownership of Ghana’s industrial fisheries sector. The event, funded by the U.S. Department of State, as part of a broader project addressing the impacts of foreign-owned distant water fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea and Mauritania, seeks to improve sustainable fisheries in Ghana.

The draft strategy highlights operational, business/market potentials and policy requirements to reposition Ghana for greater national ownership of the industrial sector. It details the challenges of the industrial fishing sector like the high cost of acquiring and operating vessels, the lack requisite technical and managerial skills, unfair market competitions, among others.

The strategy further identify some policy goals to ensure that the industrial fishing sector is beneficially-owned by Ghanaians, sustain the industrial fishing business, enhance the technical and operational capacities of the industrial fisheries industry operators and develop and enforce regulations to promote full beneficial ownership and control of the business.

The event commenced with remarks from Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, the DWFV Project Lead, and representatives from industrial fishing sector groups. Stakeholders engaged in working group sessions to review and provide feedback on the draft strategy, marking a significant step towards sustainable and locally controlled fisheries management.

The event’s conclusions will inform high-level policy discussions in Accra, as the project aims to drive greater regional cooperation and ownership in the face of the destabilizing impact of foreign-owned distant water fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea and the waters of Mauritania.