The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has announced the 2026 closed fishing season for the marine fleet.

Minister Emilia Arthur emphasised that industrial trawlers will observe a two-month ban from July 1 to August 31, while semi-industrial vessels will close for one month in July.

She noted that industrial tuna fleets have already observed their closed season from March 17 to April 30, 2026. She added that artisan canoe fishers are exempted from the directives.

“The Ministry of fishery and aquaculture through the fishery commission and in collaboration with stakeholders announces the 2026 marine fishery closed season as part of Ghana's commitment to a sustainable human centered and science based fishing management,” she stated.

The minister also cautioned artisan fishers to continue observing traditional holidays and to comply with existing regulations, warning that enforcement will be intensified.

She further urged canoe fishing vessel operators to strictly comply with all fisheries laws, particularly regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, such as light fishing and dynamite fishing, as well as all unapproved fishing methods used by canoe fishers.

She asserted that monitoring, control and surveillance will be intensified, and that sanctions will be applied under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2025, for anyone who violates the rules.

“And all the unapproved fishing methods that our canoe fishers use, monitoring, control and surveillance will be intensified and violations, sanctioned under the fishery and aquaculture act 2025, and take it from me we are not joking,” she said.