Nigeria and Ghana have agreed to strengthen cooperation against illegal fishing, a practice that threatens food security, government revenue and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, in Accra.
Oyetola said both countries discussed fisheries governance, authorisation of fishing vessels and measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
He described the practice as a shared concern requiring stronger regional coordination to protect marine resources and the people who depend on them for their livelihoods.
According to him, Nigeria’s pilot Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels could provide a platform for cooperation with Ghana on verifying fishing permits, sharing information and resolving discrepancies.
The collaboration is expected to be supported through the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, a regional body focused on fisheries management and cooperation among member states.
Oyetola said Arthur reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to fighting illegal fishing, commended Nigeria’s efforts against piracy and requested Nigeria’s support in sharing experience on marine and blue economy policy development.
In his capacity as President of the FCWC, Oyetola also visited the committee’s secretariat in Tema, where he met with its Secretary-General, Dr Antoine Djihinto, and other staff.
He commended the progress recorded by the secretariat over the past year and pledged to work with all six member states to improve regional fisheries governance.
Oyetola said Nigeria remained committed to working with Ghana and other member states to protect marine resources, promote sustainable fishing and improve the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains a major challenge for coastal countries because it undermines fisheries management, threatens fish stocks and can deprive governments and legitimate fishing operators of revenue.
