{"id":117527,"date":"2026-03-02T11:42:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117527"},"modified":"2026-03-02T11:42:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:42:24","slug":"ghana-industrial-trawlers-association-demands-urgent-action-on-maritime-security-after-fishermen-were-attacked-at-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117527","title":{"rendered":"Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association demands urgent action on maritime security after fishermen were attacked at sea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has sounded the alarm over rising threats to fishing communities and offshore vessels after more than 70 Ghanaian canoe fishermen were attacked and robbed at gunpoint while fishing off the Central Region coast. The group\u2019s call comes amid concerns that inadequate maritime protection is endangering lives and livelihoods across the country\u2019s fishing sector.<\/p>\n

In a press statement dated Friday, 27 February 2026, GITA expressed \u201cheartfelt sympathy\u201d to the victims and their families, as well as to the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), after the incident occurred near Senya Bereku. The fishermen were reportedly assaulted by armed assailants who fired warning shots, seized outboard motors, generators and other equipment, and left them stranded at sea before being rescued by security forces.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Ghanaian fisherman, whether Artisanal, Inshore, or Industrial, should have to risk his life simply to earn a living,\u201d the association said, highlighting the shared concern of workers across the fishing value chain.<\/p>\n

GITA commended the swift and coordinated response of the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Marine Police, the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU), the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Chief Fisherman of Senya Breku, noting that their intervention saved lives and brought the surviving fishermen safely ashore.<\/p>\n

Growing Risks in Ghana\u2019s Waters<\/h3>\n

The association\u2019s statement warns that the attack reflects a broader security shortfall in Ghana\u2019s territorial waters. \u201cOur waters have not been as safe as they should be,\u201d GITA said, underlining the fact that if heavily populated canoe fleets can be targeted, industrial vessels operating offshore could be deliberate targets too \u2014 especially considering the high value of their catch, machinery and personnel.<\/p>\n

GITA cited previous incidents in Ghana\u2019s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Gulf of Guinea, including armed attacks, robbery and crew kidnappings, to underline the severity of the threat. While most recent events have involved local fishing craft, piracy has historically affected larger vessels as well.<\/p>\n

Policy Context: Fisheries and Aquaculture Act<\/h3>\n

The association noted that with the recent **passage and assent of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), Ghana\u2019s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) now extends to 12 nautical miles, offering greater protection for artisanal and inshore fishers from industrial encroachment. However, GITA stressed that regulatory reforms must be matched with substantial investments in maritime safety and enforcement capabilities. \u201cWe cannot tighten operational boundaries without strengthening security coverage,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n

Call for Inter\u2011Agency Collaboration<\/h3>\n

GITA urged the government to strengthen a coordinated and visible maritime security framework, involving key institutions such as:<\/p>\n