Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Ghana, is leading 10-member fisheries delegation from Ghana at the 10th Our Oceans Conference being organized from 28th to 30th April 2025 in Busan, Korea. The conference which marks the 10th anniversary celebration session, is being organized under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Action,“ and features the special agenda topic of ”Ocean Digital“ as a means to facilitate actions for sustainable oceans.
The Our Ocean Conference is recognized as a high-level international conference on the theme of oceans and attended by more than 1,000 leaders and experts in the field of oceans, including heads of states and governments from more than 100 nations and representatives of 400 international organizations and non-profit organizations. The Conference features panel discussions and pledges in six actionable areas, namely marine pollution, marine protected areas, climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, and marine security, as well as on a special agenda topic selected by the host country.
In addition, the participants voluntarily organize several side events to discuss actions on various topical issues. Hon. Emelia Aurther as part of the OOC activities, has held several bilateral meetings with development partners to review ongoing partnerships and explore areas of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture to complement ongoing efforts to improve the current state of sector for effective governance. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee Agriculture, Food and Cocoa Affairs, Hon. Godfred Jasaw is part of the Ghana delegation to the 10th Our Ocean Conference.
Day 1- 28th April 2025
Side events with development partners
- Bilateral meeting between MoFA and Oceana
On 28th April 2025, Hon. Emelia Arthur met with Beth Lowell, Vice President for the United States for Oceana at the Bexco Auditorium to discuss areas of fisheries collaboration. Oceana is the world’s largest international advocacy organization dedicated to ocean conservation, with a mission to protect and restore the planet’s oceans through strategic, science-based campaigns focused on issues like pollution, overfishing, and climate change, working to implement policy changes and protect marine life and habitats.
Hon. Arthur noted that emerging issues confronting the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Ghana such as depleting fish stocks and illegal fishing practices required strategic partnerships to complement government efforts to sanitize the system for effective fisheries governance. Ghana is making good progress towards the establishment of the first marine protected area, legal review, electronic monitoring system and establishing the blue economy to tap into the opportunities for sustainable resource management and economic diversification. Ghana sort assistance to support the electronic monitoring system and certification for tuna fishery.
Hon. Arthur emphasized the position of Ghana to combat IUU fishing in Ghana, citing the suspension of licenses of four trawl vessels for engaging in illegal activities. The Minister noted that the activities of Oceana have positively impacted fisheries in the global context, which Ghana could learn and partner with to inform management interventions in achieving transparency and lapses in fisheries enforcement. Oceana assured of a partnership in sustainable fisheries management to improve fisheries performance. The meeting agreed to develop a framework to coordinate activities on areas of collaboration.
- Bilateral between Hon. Emelia Arthur and John Kerry
Hon. Emelia Arthur held a bilateral meeting with the former U.S. Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry to discuss small-scale fisheries and support for fisheries and aquaculture programmes in Ghana. Ghana shared actions on regulatory and structural reforms while recognizing shortfalls in interventions to address emerging issues on depleting stocks, logistics and human resource for fisheries enforcement, deficit in fisheries infrastructure and untapped potentials in aquaculture development. The government is seeking strategic partnerships in fisheries conservation strategies such as the MPA, blue economy, enforcement logistics and post-harvest management from relevant partners to complement government efforts for effective fisheries to protect the livelihoods of fishers, food security and sustainable fisheries management.
Mr Kerry shared his vision for a united African action (regulation) to combat IUU on the continent, climate change and collaboration with fisheries associations to reach local fishers to promote sustainable fisheries management.
The Minister acknowledged the role of Mr. Kerry as a pioneer in spearheading the establishment of the conference that provides a platform for international discussions on the sustainable future of the ocean.
- BILATERAL BETWEEN HON. EMELIA ARTHUR AND JONATHAN KELSEY OF THE BLOOMBERG OCEAN FUND
The bilateral meeting between Hon. Emelia Arthur and Jonathan Kelsey, Director, Bloomberg Ocean Fund at BEXCO marked a significant in establishing new areas of collaboration between Ghana and the Bloomberg Ocean Fund. The Bloomberg Ocean Fund is an initiative aimed at advancing the health of the world’s oceans through collaboration, funding, and innovative solutions. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable ocean practices that will bolster the resilience of Ghana’s fisheries sector and protect marine ecosystems. The outcomes of this meeting will lead to the development of a framework to coordinate planned areas of collaboration between the parties.
