Gov't promises measures to forestall ban on fish exports to EU

Government has given the assurance that it will put the necessary measures in place to avoid a ban on fish exports to the EU.

The assurance follows the lifting of a two-year ban on exports of fish caught in Ghanaian waters to the European Union.

The development affected a lot of companies in Ghana that export raw and processed fish to the European Union.

The ban also made it difficult for players in the fisheries industry to get access to other markets in the world for their products.

Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Sherry Ayitey, told Joy Business the biggest beneficiary of the measures will be the economy in term of investments and increased exports earnings.

Ghana is currently said to be earning about GHC 500 million (or a little over $120 million) every year from tuna exports to EU markets.

The European Commission on Thursday lifted the ban it placed on Ghana preventing it from exporting fish to countries in the European Union.

The yellow card was lifted because according to the Commission, Ghana has significantly reformed their fisheries governance system.

The Commission on Thursday confirmed its zero tolerance policy against illegal fishing worldwide.

It warned Ghana’s competitors in the fisheries industry, Comoros and Taiwan, that they risk being identified as uncooperative countries in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Commission also adopted a Communication on the key achievements of the IUU Regulation in the first five years of its enforcement.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is a major threat to global marine resources as overfishing destroys the livelihoods of many communities who depend on fisheries.

It is estimated that between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish are caught illegally a year, corresponding to at least 15% of world catches. Its global value reaches up to 10 billion euros per year.

As the world's largest importer of fisheries products, the EU has adopted a firm stance against illegal fishing worldwide.

The ban on exports of Ghana’s fish to the EU nearly collapsed some companies operating in the sector.