Ghana validates SOPs for PSMA implementation thanks to WATF support

November 2024 — Per Erik Bergh (CEO and Managing Director) and Andréa Durighello (Fisheries Expert) travelled to Tema, Ghana for a workshop aimed at continuing developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the conduct of risk assessment and inspections of fishing vessels.

SIF has been a technical partner to the West Africa Task Force (WATF) of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) since its inception in 2014 and specifically supporting Ghana since 2023 in the development of SOPs. This was the fourth workshop in the process which resulted in the validation of the SOPs by the participants.

This validation is a success, which was the result of strong engagement and contribution from the officers in providing feedback and testing the SOPs in the field. SIF will continue remote and in-person coaching and mentoring Ghana’s officers to support their integration into routine MCS work.

As a next step, Ghana also expressed the interest to be supported in formalising interagency cooperation with all parties relevant for the implementation of the FAO port State measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (PSMA).

These SOPs developed by Ghana will be useful lessons learnt for all FCWC countries – the objective being to develop regionally harmonised SOPs, assisted by the Regional MCS Centre (RMCSC).