The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) has granted the request of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) to recognise and include small-scale fishers in the 16th Conference of Ministers for member countries.
It would make it the first time that representatives of small-scale fishers are participating in such a conference.
The 16th edition of the conference, is being held from November 11 to 13, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nana Kweigyah, the national President of CaFGOAG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), commended the FCWC for its progressive decision to grant the association’s request for the recognition.
He said the historic decision marked a significant step toward strengthening participatory and inclusive fisheries governance within the sub-region, adding that the decision further demonstrated FCWC’s commitment to the principles of co-management and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines).
He added that the SSF guidelines emphasised the importance of involving small-scale fishers in decision-making processes that affected their livelihoods and the sustainability of marine resources.
He stated that small-scale fishers were key actors in food security, coastal economies, and community resilience, contributing significantly to the general well-being of populations, as well as the social, economic, and cultural development of communities.
“Our participation in the ministerial conference offers small-scale fishers the opportunity to contribute directly to policy dialogue and decision-making on regional cooperation towards addressing common challenges in the fisheries sector. We look forward to engaging meaningfully in the discussions, sharing perspectives, innovations, and challenges of small-scale fishers from across the sub-region,” Nana Kweigyah stated.
He extended appreciation to the Secretary General and the FCWC Secretariat, the Conference of Ministers, and the association’s partners, Blue Ventures, for supporting small-scale participation in the conference.
Nana Kweigyah expressed the hope that this inclusion paves the way for stronger collaboration between policymakers and artisanal fishing communities in implementing regional and national actions necessary to restore fish stock for communities.
