A €59 million initiative aimed at promoting sustainable ocean governance and addressing the menace of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has been launched in Tema.
The programme, known as the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), is a joint effort of the European Union (EU), Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
It seeks to strengthen cooperation and build capacity across the sub-region to ensure better management and protection of marine resources for both present and future generations.
The programme spans across 13 coastal states—Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo—underscoring the shared responsibility of the sub-region to protect and sustainably manage its ocean resources.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs Emilia Arthur, described the programme as a defining moment in the region’s collective effort to secure the health of its oceans, enhance the resilience of fisheries, and safeguard the prosperity of millions of coastal communities.
She identified IUU fishing as one of the most urgent threats to marine sustainability, noting that it deprived West African nations of billions of dollars annually in lost revenue while also undermining the livelihoods of artisanal fishers.
Mrs Arthur expressed Ghana’s gratitude to the European Union for its generous €59 million funding for WASOP and for selecting Ghana as a beneficiary country.
She noted that the initiative represented a bold step towards transforming ideas into concrete action for sustainable fisheries management.
She explained that WASOP was anchored on three interlinked pillars: strengthening ocean governance, supporting a sustainable blue economy, and protecting and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems. Together, these pillars provide a holistic framework to promote the sustainable use of marine resources while driving inclusive growth across West Africa.
Under Pillar One, four priorities will be pursued—reducing IUU fishing, promoting science-based management of shared small pelagic stocks, strengthening regional fisheries governance, and empowering artisanal fisheries.
These interventions, she cited, are vital for biodiversity conservation, food and nutrition security, and sustaining livelihoods across coastal communities.
“Implementation of Pillar One will be led by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), and the FCWC. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with ECOWAS and coordinated by Expertise France,” she disclosed.
On his part, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Rune Skinnebach, said the programme was part of a five-year, €59 million package being rolled out across 13 West African countries to strengthen collaboration in combating IUU fishing and improving marine governance.
He emphasised that the EU has been Ghana’s long-standing partner in the fisheries sector, citing previous collaborations such as the EU-funded Regional Fisheries Governance projects on which WASOP builds.
“The European Union is not here to impose solutions. The success of WASOP depends entirely on the wisdom of West African governments and their fisheries control agencies, the innovation of the private sector, the dedication of our scientific community, and the energy of the youth. This is an African-led vision and we are proud and humble partners in that journey,” Mr Skinnebach stated.
The Secretary-General of the FCWC, Mr Antoine Gaston Djihinto, welcomed the programme, stressing that it would enhance regional collaboration in monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing activities. “Fish do not know borders, and neither do those who exploit them illegally. It is, therefore, essential that we strengthen our cooperation to combat IUU fishing and safeguard our shared resources,” he remarked.
According to him, the FCWC would play a coordinating role by ensuring information-sharing among member states, building the capacity of fisheries officials and harmonising policies to tackle cross-border challenges.
FROM KEN AFEDZI, TEMA
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today.
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
