Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association demands urgent maritime security after attack on canoe fishermen
The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has issued a strong call for enhanced maritime security following a violent attack on more than 70 canoe fishermen off the Central Region coast. The incident, which occurred near Senya Bereku, saw armed assailants fire warning shots, seize outboard motors and generators, and abandon the fishermen at sea before security forces rescued them.
In a press statement dated February 27, 2026, GITA expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, as well as with the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC). “No Ghanaian fisherman, whether Artisanal, Inshore, or Industrial, should have to risk his life simply to earn a living,” the association said, underscoring the shared vulnerability across the fishing sector.
GITA commended the swift response of the Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Marine Police, the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU), the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Chief Fisherman of Senya Bereku. Their intervention, the association noted, was critical in saving lives and bringing the stranded fishermen safely ashore.
The association warned that the attack reflects a broader security gap in Ghana’s territorial waters. “Our waters have not been as safe as they should be,” GITA stated, cautioning that if artisanal fleets can be targeted, industrial trawlers, given their high-value catch and equipment, could be deliberate targets as well.
The group cited previous incidents in Ghana’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the wider Gulf of Guinea, where piracy and armed robbery have historically affected both local fishing craft and larger vessels. The latest attack, they argued, highlights the urgent need for stronger deterrence and surveillance.
GITA referenced the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), which extended Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) to 12 nautical miles, offering greater protection for artisanal and inshore fishers. However, the association stressed that regulatory reforms must be matched with investments in maritime safety. “We cannot tighten operational boundaries without strengthening security coverage,” the statement read.
The association urged government to establish a coordinated maritime security framework involving the Ghana Navy, Marine Police, Fisheries Enforcement Unit, Ghana Maritime Authority, Fisheries Commission, and National Security. Such collaboration, they argued, would improve surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence at sea.
While emphasizing state-led patrols, GITA also suggested that if adequate protection cannot be guaranteed, government should initiate a lawful dialogue on vessel self-protection mechanisms under national security laws. “The safety of Ghanaian lives at sea cannot be left to chance,” the association said.
Concluding its statement, GITA reaffirmed its readiness to work with stakeholders to restore confidence, strengthen maritime safety, and protect livelihoods across Ghana’s fisheries sector. The association insisted that insecurity in the country’s waters must never be normalized.
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