The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has called for immediate and significant investment in maritime security following a recent armed attack on artisanal fishers off the coast of Senya Bereku in the Central Region.
In a press statement, the association expressed solidarity with more than 70 artisanal fishers who were reportedly attacked and robbed at gunpoint while engaged in lawful fishing activities at sea. It extended sympathy to the affected fisherfolk, their families, and the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), stressing that no Ghanaian fisherman should have to risk his life simply to earn a living.
Describing the incident as deeply troubling, GITA warned that it raises serious concerns about the safety of Ghana’s territorial waters. The association cautioned that the threat of criminal activity at sea may not be limited to artisanal operators alone.
According to GITA, if heavily populated canoe fleets can be attacked at gunpoint, industrial trawlers operating offshore could also become vessels often carry high-value catch, fuel, machinery, foreign crew, and other assets, potentially making them even more attractive to criminal elements.
The association revealed that the industrial sector has in the past experienced robbery, intimidation, and in some instances, kidnapping of crew members incidents that resulted in significant financial losses and human costs.
GITA further referenced the recent passage and assent of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 1146, which extends the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) to 12 nautical miles. It stressed that while regulatory reforms are necessary, they must be matched with enhanced maritime enforcement and security capabilities. Tightening operational boundaries without strengthening security coverage, the association argued, could leave fishers and investments in the sector exposed.
To address the growing insecurity, GITA advocated stronger inter-agency collaboration among the Ghana Navy, Marine Police, Fisheries Enforcement Unit, Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission, and National Security to ensure rapid response, improved surveillance, and effective deterrence.
The association warned that criminality at sea does not discriminate by vessel category, cautioning that an attack on canoe fishers today could easily extend to trawl vessels tomorrow if preventive measures are not urgently enhanced.
While calling for increased state-led protection and maritime patrols, GITA also suggested that if adequate security cannot be guaranteed within lawful operating zones, a structured and lawful discussion on vessel self-protection mechanisms may need to be initiated within the framework of national security laws.
It reiterated that insecurity must not be allowed to become normalised in Ghana’s waters and pledged its readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to restore confidence and safeguard livelihoods across the fisheries value chain.
