The Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA) has received funding support from the Earth Journalism Network to implement a six-month nationwide journalism-led initiative, the “Save Our Sea (SOS) Campaign,” aimed at tackling illegal fishing and promoting marine conservation across Ghana.

GARDJA President, Richmond Frimpong, said the funding will strengthen journalism’s role as a tool for environmental accountability, public education, and policy influence in the fisheries sector. “This funding enables us to enhance investigative reporting on marine issues, educate the public, and hold stakeholders accountable,” he said.

The SOS Campaign is a coordinated national media intervention designed to expose, challenge, and ultimately help reduce illegal fishing practices, including saiko, bottom trawling, light fishing, and the use of destructive gear, which continue to threaten Ghana’s marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

As part of the campaign, GARDJA will organize specialized training workshops to equip journalists with knowledge in marine ecology, fisheries laws, investigative reporting, environmental data analysis, and safety at sea. The initiative will also establish a Marine Reporters Forum, a dedicated network of journalists from print, radio, television, and digital platforms committed to sustained, evidence-based reporting on marine and coastal issues. The Forum will facilitate collaboration, story sharing, and peer learning, and will be managed by GARDJA beyond the lifespan of the project.

Members of GARDJA will undertake in-depth investigations into illegal fishing operations, including industrial trawler incursions into the Inshore Exclusion Zone and weaknesses in enforcement systems. Using satellite tracking, vessel monitoring tools, and community informant networks, the campaign will produce documentaries, radio discussions, podcasts, photo essays, social media content, and infographics. Selected journalists will also receive bursary support to produce high-impact investigative stories.

The campaign will also involve visits to key coastal communities, including Elmina, Axim, Shama, Keta, Ada, Winneba, and James Town, to document the experiences of artisanal fishers, women fish processors, youth, and traditional authorities.

These engagements will culminate in community forums to amplify local voices and foster dialogue. Stakeholder engagements will be convened to ensure evidence from investigations informs policy decisions, enforcement actions, and legislative reforms.

The SOS Campaign aligns with national and global marine conservation priorities, including Ghana’s commitment to the 30×30 Marine Conservation Target, which seeks to protect 30 per cent of marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030. By exposing illegal practices and strengthening public accountability, the project is expected to contribute to improved governance, transparency, and sustainable fisheries management.

Primary beneficiaries of the campaign include journalists, artisanal fishers, canoe owners, women fish processors, and coastal youth whose livelihoods depend on healthy marine ecosystems, while policymakers, government officials, and legislators will benefit from credible, independent evidence to guide reforms.

Mr Frimpong expressed appreciation to the Earth Journalism Network for the funding support, describing it as a “critical investment in journalism-driven environmental protection and sustainable development.”