SUMMARY
Ghana’s fishing industry, vital to national food security and local employment, is facing acute strain from a combination of environmental pressures and overfishing from foreign vessels, most notably from Chinese Distant- Water Fishing (DWF) fleets. Despite domestic regulations, Chinese trawlers dominate Ghana’s industrial fishing sector through opaque ownership structures and illegal practices. These activities have encouraged overfishing, ecosystem degradation, and socio-economic disruption. The continuation of these trends poses a significant risk of fishery collapse in the near future.
OVERVIEW OF GHANA’S FISHING SECTOR
• Economic and Social Role: The fishing industry employs approximately 2.7 million Ghanaians and serves as the primary protein source for the population.
• Artisanal vs. Industrial Divide: While artisanal fishing remains culturally and economically central, the industrial sector is dominated by foreign fleets, primarily Chinese, operating under Ghanaian registration.
• Declining Fish Stocks: Environmental variability, climate change, and illegal practices have led to significant fish stock depletion.
CHINA’S ROLE IN THE GHANIAN FISHING INDUSTRY
China has developed the world’s largest DWF fleet as a response to domestic fishery collapse. This fleet captures ~20% of global fish trade and is believed to be underreporting its foreign catches by an estimated 40%. In Ghana, Chinese companies control ~90% of the industrial trawl fleet. This was achieved through the circumvention of legal prohibitions through joint ventures and front companies. Additionally, Chinese vessels are heavily subsidized, allowing them to outcompete local fleets economically. There are further economic and environmental concerns to Chinese influence in the Ghanian fishing industry. Bottom Trawling is destructive to marine ecosystems and often conducted within exclusion zones. The fishing practices also target juveniles which compromises fish stock regeneration. Another growing issue in Ghana is illegal Transshipment of fish, also known as Saiko. This practice involves industrial trawlers, many of which are foreign-owned or illegally registered, offloading their bycatch at sea to specially designated canoes, which then bring the fish to shore to be sold, often at inflated prices. Originally a way to reduce waste, Saiko has evolved into a highly profitable and illegal enterprise that undermines the livelihoods of local fisherman. Fish that would previously enter artisanal markets are now captured by industrial vessels and resold to the communities that once sustainably harvested them. As a result, local fishermen are unable to compete economically, and consumers face reduced access to affordable seafood. The widespread impact of Saiko thus extends beyond the fishing industry, threatening food security, deepening inequality, and weakening efforts toward sustainable ocean governance.
OTHER INFLUENCES
China’s engagement extends beyond fishing operations, including infrastructure diplomacy such as landing site construction and loans in exchange for access rights. However, Norway and South Korea have sought to balance China’s influence with technical assistance and investment in sustainable aquaculture and post-harvest projects. This includes recent meetings between the Ghanian fisheries minister and officials from both South Korea and Norway focused on sustainable fisheries development.
LOCAL RESPONSE
Artisanal fishermen are caught between resisting and cooperating with Chinese vessels. Tension can be seen with the recent kidnapping of Chinese crew members from a trawler off the Ghanian coast earlier this year despite leaving other crew members unharmed. While many oppose illegal fishing activity, some have entered informal partnerships, facilitating Saiko in return for consistent access to fish. This coexistence of moral outrage and economic necessity reflects the deeper material and social roots of the issue that leaves fisherman little choice when it comes to ensuring income and food. There are recent signs of reform:
• Enforcement Action: In early 2025, four industrial trawlers were suspended by the Ministry of Fisheries for illegal practices.
• Policy Adjustments: Artisanal fishermen were granted an exemption from the 2025 closed season, in a move designed to support domestic livelihoods.
Newly appointed Fisheries Minister Emelia Arthur appears to be taking a more assertive stance on illegal fishing. Her recent decision to exempt artisanal fishermen from the 2025 closed fishing season, scheduled from July 1 to August 31, reflects a shift toward more inclusive and equitable enforcement measures. This exemption acknowledges the unique challenges faced by small-scale fishermen and aims to support their livelihoods. However, fishermen in the Western Region have suggested adjusting future closed seasons to May and June. This would align with traditional periods when they naturally reduce fishing activities.
Therefore, changes being made within the industry by the new minister may not be as beneficial as they first appear. Thus, further reforms are needed. Another example would be that, on the 29th of April, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture endorsed the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. This is a crucial measure to protect Ghana’s marine resources, strengthen coastal livelihoods, and advance the fight against illegal fishing. However, this is only the first step, and the correct implementation of the charter is crucial. Only if done effectively, could it crack down on shell companies and ensure public disclosure of vessel ownership which are of vital importance.
CONCLUSION
Ghana’s fishing sector is becoming increasingly reliant on foreign investment and is thus vulnerable to exploitation. Chinese distant-water fleets, operating through legal loopholes and with heavy state subsidies, have rapidly destabilised Ghana’s fisheries, meaning that the coming years will be critical. Without comprehensive reform, including vessel ownership transparency, improved enforcement of territorial fishing zones, and targeted international partnerships, Ghana could face a total collapse of its fisheries. This would jeopardise food security, economic stability, and maritime sovereignty in one of West Africa’s most strategically significant coastal nations.
