The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has announced plans to introduce a comprehensive registration and licensing regime for artisanal fishing vessels by June 2026, as part of measures to strengthen monitoring and improve safety on Ghana’s waters.
According to the Minister, the new policy will formalise the operations of artisanal fishers through mandatory registration and licensing, enabling authorities to better track fishing activities and enforce regulations within the sector.
A key component of the initiative will be the installation of high-tech tracking and communication devices on artisanal canoes.
The system is expected to enhance real-time monitoring and provide an alternative communication channel when fishers move beyond conventional network coverage.
It will also facilitate quicker distress alerts and support search and rescue operations during emergencies at sea.
“We are going to begin registration and licensing for artisanal fishers. We are also talking about equipping the artisanal fleet with tracking and communication systems so that when they go beyond a certain threshold, and normal networks fail, there will still be a means of communication for them.
“We are also working on an insurance and pension scheme for artisanal fishers, and we are hoping that by June we will be rolling these out,” she stated.
The Minister disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, February 3, after presenting seven outboard motors and GH¢5,000 each to canoe owners whose vessels were attacked by armed robbers at sea in Senya Breku last week.
The support formed part of the government’s commitment to assist the 71 fishermen affected by the incident.
However, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, revealed that a team of military psychologists has been deployed to provide counselling and guidance to the robbery victims as they prepare to resume fishing.
