The 2025 Closed Fishing Season is set to begin from July 1 to August 31, 2025.
Inshore fleets are expected to observe the closed season from July 1 to July 31, 2025, whilst that of industrial trawl vessels takes effect from July 1 to August 31, 2025.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Shama Emelia Arthur, announced on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the sector Minister said that artisanal fishers have been exempted from this year’s closure.
Nonetheless, they are expected to adhere to the Tuesday fishing holidays and refrain from engaging in illegal fishing activities.
“These measures are consistent with Ghana’s national fisheries strategy and best practices for sustainable resource management aimed at replenishment of fish stock in our oceans. Marine canoe artisanal fishers are exempted from this year’s closed season,” she stated.
“However, this exemption does not absolve artisanal fishers from complying with other traditional and statutory fishery regulations,” the minister added.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to exploring alternative measures to achieve the objectives initially envisioned through the implementation of the closed season.
To ensure compliance, Madam Arthur disclosed that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been instructed to engage fisherfolk and monitor their activities throughout the period.
She added that independent bodies have been tasked to assess the impact of the exemption of artisanal fishermen from their closed season and present their findings to guide future decisions.