Ghana plans to designate 21 coastal communities as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to conserve marine biodiversity and improve fisheries management, beginning with the Greater Cape Three Points in the Western Region, government officials said.
The move, expected to be announced by President John Dramani Mahama, will restrict fishing activities in the designated zones.
It forms part of the country’s commitment to the global ‘30×30’ target, which seeks to protect and restore at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean areas by 2030.
Motivation
Acting Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Professor Kwadwo Berchie Asiedu, said the MPA initiative aims to allow fish stocks to recover and increase local catches.
“We are starting this one by implementing the first Marine Protected Area (MPA). The MPA declaration is going to happen this year, maybe this month the President will go and declare the first Marine Protected Area at the Greater Cape Three Points,” Prof. Berchie Asiedu said.
“The MPA has so many benefits. It’s for the fish to lay their eggs and also for the fish to rest. In that sense it would increase our catch per unit effort.”
Campaign
The announcement came during the launch of the “Save Our Sea” (SOS) campaign, organised by the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA) in partnership with the Earth Journalism Network.
The programme provided journalists with training on reporting marine issues, including fisheries laws, illegal transshipment, bottom trawling, and ocean conservation.
Country Coordinator for the Earth Journalism Network, Charles Smith, said the initiative aims to equip journalists to effectively report on marine conservation efforts across Ghana, Mexico, and the Philippines.
“This project is to support journalists through training and grants given to them so that they will be able to report on efforts that are being undertaken across three major countries. Here we are talking about Ghana, Mexico and the Philippines,” he said.
National President of GARDJA, Richmond Frimpong, encouraged participants to apply the skills gained to produce comprehensive stories on marine issues to support sustainable development.
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