The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has called for tighter scrutiny and stronger security measures at ports worldwide to prevent illegally caught fish from entering legitimate markets.
She made the call at an event in Rome, Italy, marking the 10th anniversary of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), ahead of the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
The Minister stressed the need for intensified efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, describing the practice as a major threat to the livelihoods of fishers, food security and the sustainable future of coastal communities.
The scale of the problem remains significant, with researchers estimating that at least one in five fish caught globally is caught illegally, while IUU fishing is estimated to cost coastal countries between US$10 billion and US$23 billion annually. The figures underscore the importance of strengthening controls across the fisheries supply chain, particularly at ports where illegally caught fish can be introduced into legitimate markets.
Ms Arthur underscored that IUU fishing should not be viewed solely as an environmental concern, but also as an issue of economic justice, national sovereignty and community stewardship.
“The fight against IUU fishing is therefore not only an environmental responsibility, but also a matter of economic justice, national sovereignty and community stewardship,” she stated.
Ms Arthur highlighted Ghana’s renewed efforts to strengthen the implementation of the PSMA a decade after its adoption, particularly through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025, which she said aligns with the objectives of the agreement while strengthening the country’s port surveillance and legal framework.
She, however, stressed the need for further improvements in port surveillance and regulatory enforcement to close loopholes that allow illegally caught fish to enter legitimate markets, warning that such practices undermine the livelihoods of fishing communities and compromise efforts to achieve food security.
“Ten years after the adoption of the PSMA, I call for stronger accountability across the entire fisheries value chain. While enforcement at sea remains critical, we must also close systemic loopholes at ports and ensure that illegally caught fish cannot enter legitimate markets,” she stated.
The Minister also called for greater technology sharing, strengthened operational capacity and enhanced cross-border cooperation among flag States, port States and other stakeholders to disrupt the movement of illegally caught fish across the fisheries supply chain.
She emphasised that tackling IUU fishing requires stronger international solidarity and coordinated action, particularly as illegally harvested fish can move across jurisdictions before reaching consumers and legitimate markets.
The PSMA, adopted by FAO member countries in 2009 and entering into force in 2016, is the first binding international agreement specifically aimed at preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing by preventing vessels engaged in such activities from using ports and landing their catches.
Ms Arthur’s call therefore comes as countries and fisheries stakeholders assess a decade of implementation of the agreement and consider measures to strengthen port controls, enforcement and international cooperation against IUU fishing.
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