Parliament ratifies WTO Fisheries Agreement, strengthens fight against illegal fishing

Parliament has ratified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, signaling a renewed national commitment to curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries management.

The ratification, championed through a joint memorandum by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Emelia Arthur, and the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, marks Ghana’s formal endorsement of a global agreement adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in June 2022.

Addressing the media on Friday after the agreement, Mrs. Arthur noted that the ratification aligns with Ghana’s Marine Fisheries Management Plan (2022–2026), the national blueprint to restore marine fish stocks, enhance data collection, and improve enforcement.

“It also supports our broader efforts to build a resilient, equitable fisheries sector,” she said.

She stated that parliament’s decision to ratify the WTO agreement comes at a pivotal time, as the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture prepares to implement the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), a measure aimed at replenishing depleted fish stocks and sustaining the livelihoods of coastal communities.

“According to the memorandum submitted to Parliament, ratification of the WTO Agreement is not only a requirement under Ghana’s constitutional process for international treaties but also a strategic move to level the playing field for Ghana’s artisanal and semi-industrial fishers, who face stiff competition from heavily subsidized industrial fleets from countries such as China, Japan, and the EU,” she added.

The WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is designed to eliminate harmful subsidies contributing to overfishing and IUU practices, particularly on the high seas and waters where fish stocks are overexploited or of unknown status.

The agreement introduces prohibitions on subsidies for IUU fishing and the exploitation of overfished stocks and grants transition periods to developing countries like Ghana. This development positions Ghana as a regional leader in sustainable fisheries governance, particularly as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).