IUU Fishing Surges in Volta Waters as CIMAG Flags Alarming Illegal Practices, Police Vow Prosecutions

By VoiceAfricaonline.com

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities are resurging in Ghana’s eastern coastal waters, particularly within the Volta Region, raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of marine resources and the livelihoods of artisanal fishers.
Despite ongoing interventions by government agencies and maritime stakeholders to safeguard Ghana’s territorial waters, fresh findings by the Centre for International Maritime Affairs, Ghana (CIMAG), publishers of your authoritative voiceafricaonline reveal a disturbing increase in the use of banned and destructive fishing methods.
According to CIMAG, routine monitoring operations have uncovered a growing reliance on dynamite fishing, calcium carbide, light fishing and monofilament nets—practices that are outlawed under Ghana’s fisheries laws due to their severe ecological impact.

The organisation reports that while industrial-scale illegal fishing by large foreign and local vessels remains a challenge, artisanal fishers themselves are increasingly engaging in illicit methods, further compounding the crisis.
Hotspots and Alleged Collusion
CIMAG’s surveillance indicates that fishers operating from Ada, Tema, Ningo and Prampram are among the most frequent offenders in Volta waters. The findings further allege that some offenders act with the tacit support or connivance of local opinion leaders, undermining enforcement efforts at the community level.

A recent incident highlights the tensions surrounding enforcement. During a monitoring patrol, a taskforce arrested a canoe from Ada allegedly engaged in light fishing in the Woe waters within the Anglo District. The suspects were handed over to the appropriate authorities; however, the case was subsequently referred to the police following reported interference by some elders of the Woe community.
Police: Prosecution Is Inevitable
Confirming the development, the Anglo District Police Commander, Superintendent Benjamin Samani, assured VoiceAfricaonline.com that the case is fully prepared for prosecution.
“But for the court being on recess, the suspects would have already been processed. I do not delay cases. As soon as the court resumes, they will be arraigned to allow the law to take its course,” he stated.
Superintendent Samani stressed that the police will not tolerate interference or attempts to derail justice, adding that no individual or authority will be allowed to compromise the case.
Pressure for Out-of-Court Settlement
Meanwhile, independent checks by VoiceAfricaonline.com suggest that some influential individuals, including traditional leaders, are pushing for an out-of-court settlement—an approach critics say weakens deterrence and fuels repeat offences.
A Regional and Economic Threat
The resurgence of IUU fishing comes against a broader regional backdrop. The European Union estimates that IUU fishing costs West Africa billions of dollars annually, depriving coastal states of revenue, threatening food security and accelerating marine ecosystem collapse.
Experts warn that the continued use of destructive fishing methods could lead to fish stock depletion, loss of biodiversity and increased poverty among coastal communities, unless enforcement is strengthened and community complicity addressed.
Calls for Collective Action
Maritime analysts and environmental advocates are urging stronger collaboration among law enforcement, traditional authorities, civil society and fishing communities to protect Ghana’s marine environment before the damage becomes irreversible.
VoiceAfricaonline.com, which is closely monitoring developments, will continue to follow the case and provide updates as proceedings unfold.