By Adnan Adams Mohammed
Ghana’s bold strides in marine conservation took center stage at a high-level regional workshop held last week in Saly, Senegal.
Representing Ghana’s artisanal sector, the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) actively participated in the three-day event focused on “Building Advocacy Capacity of Artisanal Fisheries Professional Organizations.”
The workshop, organized by the West African Association for the Development of Artisanal Fisheries (WADAF), brought together key stakeholders from across the sub-region to harmonize efforts in protecting the livelihoods of millions of small-scale fishers.
Ghana’s IEZ expansion: A regional blueprint
A major highlight of the opening sessions was the spotlight on Ghana’s expanded Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ). In a landmark move for the region, Ghana recently extended its IEZ from 6 to 12 nautical miles, effectively doubling the protected waters reserved exclusively for artisanal fishers.
Regional delegates and WADAF officials highly commended the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Government of Ghana for this “strong leadership.” The expansion is being hailed as a critical step in safeguarding coastal communities against the encroachment of industrial trawlers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.
Building alliances for the future
CaFGOAG is utilizing the platform to share Ghana’s recent successes while building strategic alliances with peer organizations from neighboring countries. By fostering a “regional approach,” the association aims to address transboundary challenges such as:
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Advocacy for standardized fisheries policies across the West African corridor.
Shared knowledge on community-led co-management of marine resources.
“Our participation here is about more than just representation; it is about ensuring that the voices of Ghanaian fishers contribute to a unified West African strategy,” a CaFGOAG representative noted.
Gratitude for partnerships
The association expressed deep appreciation to its partner, Blue Ventures Conservation, for their continuous support. The collaboration with Blue Ventures has been instrumental in strengthening CaFGOAG’s advocacy capacity and supporting the technical groundwork required for the IEZ expansion.
