By Franice Tandoh
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, has taken decisive action against illegal fishing practices by suspending the licences of four industrial trawl vessels operating within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The affected vessels—Meng Xin 10 (owned by Nassa Co. Ltd.), Florence 2 (owned by Akrafi Fisheries), Long Xiang 607, and Long Xiang 608 (both owned by Wannimas Complex Co. Ltd.)—were found guilty of multiple violations of Ghana’s fisheries laws.
These offences include unauthorised transshipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones, and the harvesting of juvenile fish, all of which pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.
The Ministry, invoking Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), has suspended the licences of these vessels for a period of twelve months, effective April 1, 2025.
