Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

More than 300 fisherfolk from Ghana's marine artisanal fisheries sector have been trained on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), through ten workshops held across the country's four coastal regions. The organization and delivery of the workshops were led by the Centre for Coastal Management – Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (CCM-ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast, with funding support from Blue Ventures. Technical and facilitation support was also provided by officials from the Fisheries Commission and the Global Fisheries and Resilience Action (GFRA).

The highly participatory sessions brought together fishermen, fish processors, canoe owners, and boat captains drawn from the leadership of four major fisherfolk associations – Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association Ghana (CAFGOAG), African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fisheries Organizations (CAOPA) and National Fish Processers and Traders Association (NAFPTA).  Alongside presentations on the new law, participants took part in group discussions and practical exercises that encouraged them to reflect on how the provisions of the Act apply to their daily fishing activities and coastal livelihoods.

Facilitators guided participants through key elements of the Act, including measures to combat illegal fishing, strengthen fisheries management, and promote sustainable use of marine resources. The interactive format allowed stakeholders to exchange experiences, raise concerns, and collectively explore solutions to challenges facing the sector.
Participants also worked in groups to discuss compliance responsibilities, co-management approaches, and opportunities under the new legal framework, before sharing their insights in plenary sessions. These engagements helped deepen understanding of the Act which is expected to help them share the knowledge they have acquired with other fisherfolk in their respective communities. 

The sensitization programme forms part of broader efforts to promote awareness, encourage compliance, and support the effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146) among Ghana's artisanal fisheries stakeholders.