Fisheries Commission, FCWC Plan National Canoe and Fisher Census

The Fisheries Commission (FC) and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) on January 21, 2026, held a high-level meeting at the FC Head Office in Accra to deliberate on the Terms of Reference for a nationwide census of canoes, fishing gear, and fishers in Ghana’s artisanal marine fisheries sector.
The engagement forms part of the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), a regional initiative aimed at strengthening governance frameworks and promoting the sustainable management of marine fisheries across West Africa.
The proposed census is expected to generate accurate and up-to-date data on fishing communities, fishing assets, and production systems.
This information will feed into a harmonised regional database, providing a reliable basis for evidence-based planning, policy formulation, and coordinated fisheries management among countries in the sub-region.
Officials indicated that the availability of comprehensive and standardised data will enhance monitoring, improve regulatory compliance, and support targeted interventions to address overfishing and environmental degradation.
By strengthening data quality and regional collaboration, the initiative is also expected to contribute to improved food security, safeguard livelihoods along the coast, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s marine resources.