Scorecard for the sea: Holding Ghana’s marine fisheries management plan (2022–2026) to account

Fishermen in Ghana’s Cape Three Points coastal region are struggling with dwindling catches and mounting fuel costs, despite promises made under the Marine Fisheries Management Plan (MFMP) 2022–2026. The plan aimed to rebuild depleted fish stocks through measures such as annual closed fishing seasons, marine protected areas (MPAs), and stricter enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. However, progress has been slow.

Fishermen like Francis Dadzie and Victoria Bolor have seen their incomes decline as their catches have become smaller and more unreliable. The annual closed fishing seasons have not led to the desired conservation impact, as over 14,000 canoes continue to fish while stocks are supposed to recover. Moreover, industrial trawlers are allegedly fishing illegally within protected coastal waters at night, further exacerbating the situation.

Despite the establishment of the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area, which covers only about 2% of Ghana’s territorial waters, communities remain uncertain about its boundaries and restrictions. Without proper enforcement and alternative livelihoods, community support for the plan is lacking. The lack of surveillance equipment and patrols also hampers efforts to enforce the closed seasons and other regulations.

The economic importance of Ghana’s fisheries is significant, contributing between 1% and 1.5% directly to the country’s GDP, or up to 4.5% when the broader value chain is considered. However, illegal fishing practices cost West Africa billions of dollars annually, with estimates ranging from US$1.95 billion to US$2.3 billion. While the MFMP has set ambitious goals, the lack of enforcement and adequate support for small-scale fishers leaves much to be desired in terms of achieving lasting improvements in the marine fisheries sector.