The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has reiterated Government’s strong commitment to working closely with industry players to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146).
She made this known during a stakeholder engagement with the Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and the Ghana Tuna Association (GTA) held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the NAFAG Hall in Tema.
The engagement focused specifically on the implementation of the new law and its implications for the operations of industrial and tuna fishing companies. According to the Minister, the meeting was convened to provide a platform for open dialogue—allowing industry stakeholders to share concerns, seek clarification on regulatory requirements, and jointly identify practical approaches that support compliance while enabling businesses to thrive.
Hon. Emelia Arthur emphasized that Government is rolling out key reforms under the new law, including digitised licensing systems, enhanced monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms, and science-based fisheries management measures. These interventions, she explained, are aimed at creating a predictable, transparent, and investment-friendly operating environment for the fisheries sector.
She stressed, however, that compliance with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 is a shared responsibility. “Protecting our fish stocks and ensuring the long-term viability of the fisheries sector requires collective action from Government, Parliament, and industry players,” the Minister noted.
Also addressing the meeting, the Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs and Member of Parliament for Wa East, Godfred Seidu Jasaw, assured stakeholders of Parliament’s readiness to work with industry to support effective implementation of the law. He urged operators to conduct their activities responsibly in the national interest, warning that the decline of the fisheries sector would have far-reaching consequences for livelihoods, food security, and the economy.
“If the fisheries industry goes down, we all go down,” he said.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment by Government, Parliament, and industry stakeholders to deepen collaboration, ensure effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), and secure a sustainable future for Ghana’s fisheries sector.
