The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has announced July 1 to July 31 as the official period for the 2025 closed season for inshore fleets, while industrial trawlers will observe an extended closure until August 31.

The closed season forms part of government’s strategy to protect and sustain Ghana’s marine resources.

At a press briefing on Monday, June 23, 2025, the sector minister and Member of Parliament for Shama, Emelia Arthur, confirmed that artisanal fishers have been exempted from this year’s closure.

However, they are still expected to observe Tuesday fishing holidays and avoid illegal fishing practices.

“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.