Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project

CRC

Events

Top Ghanaian Officials and Fishing-Industry Leaders to Visit URI and Washington D.C.

Senior officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and representatives of the Ghanaian fishing industry will be conducting a fact-finding tour this month. Their goal is to learn from the United States’ experience and examples of fisheries management and return to Ghana with new ideas and capabilities to rebuild and preserve their nation’s fisheries.

The visit is sponsored by USAID/Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) implemented in Ghana by the Coastal Resources Center of URI. SFMP’s goal is to assist the Government of Ghana to rebuild targeted marine fish stocks that have seen major declines. MoFAD was established as the trustee of fisheries development and sustainable management in Ghana. The Fisheries Commission is the implementing agency of MoFAD responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance, evaluation, and compliance functions in all areas of fisheries development and management, including licensing, fish health and post-harvest activities.

The range and scope of the visit is ambitious. Through a series of presentations, meetings, and workshops the delegation will learn more about:

  • Fisheries data collection and the Atlantic Cooperative Coastal Statistics Program
  • U.S. fisheries management authorities and state and federal coordination mechanisms
  • U.S. fisheries law enforcement and strategies for combatting illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing
  • U.S. Sea Grant Program and the role of extension programs and public/private partnerships in fisheries and aquaculture development
  • U.S. approach to collaborative fisheries management through policy, laws and regulations, and implementation through management councils
  • Aquaculture development, planning, and regulation.

The delegation is being hosted by the Coastal Resources Center at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. Meetings and tours have been planned with senior officials from Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), enforcement officials from RIDEM and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, URI’s Fisheries Center, Commercial Fisheries Center of RI, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, and Rhode Island Sea Grant.