The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is preparing for its first-ever joint fisheries closed season following announcements by the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to begin implementation on 1 July 2023.

The implementation of a joint closed season brings the region a step closer to the aspiration of a regional fisheries closed season to permit the recovery of dwindling fish stocks.

Both nations will close their artisanal sectors from 1– 31 July 2023, and their semi-industrial and industrial sectors from 1 July – 31 August 2023. The fisheries of both nations for the industrial sector will then reopen 1 September 2023.

Commenting on the joint closed season, FCWC Secretary General Dr. Antoine Gaston Djihinto stated “I celebrate the leadership of the FCWC Chairperson Hon. Minister Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, and Hon. Minister Sidi Touré for bringing this joint fishery closed season to fruition. Its implementation demonstrates the growing cooperation and collaboration between the two nations, and the region. Additionally, our stakeholders and partners have all been alerted and have all expressed their willingness to assist and exercise the necessary vigilance in MCS activities over the period.”

The fisheries closed season is a fisheries management measure and an objective under the FCWC’s 2023 theme of the year Supporting Effective Fisheries Management for a Sustainable Blue Economy and the FCWC Regional Fisheries Management Plan.