NICE, FRANCE – Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, on Tuesday called for increased transparency to expose the true beneficiaries of crimes at sea, highlighting the significant financial losses incurred by West Africa due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Speaking at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice aboard the German research vessel Meteor, Minister Arthur emphasized that while the acts of maritime crime are visible, the individuals and entities who truly profit often remain concealed, operating through corporate structures, private equity funds, and companies that obscure their real ownership.
With West Africa facing annual losses of up to US$9.4 billion from IUU fishing, Hon. Arthur advocated for urgent reforms in transparency measures, comprehensive vessel ownership disclosures, and enhanced global cooperation to combat these illicit activities. Her remarks were delivered during a high-level side event titled “No Safe Harbour: Exposing the True Beneficiaries of Crimes at Sea,” organized by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).
The panel included prominent figures such as Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of the European Commission DG MARE; Mr. Éric Banel, Director-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries & Aquaculture, France; Hon. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., Maritime Commissioner, Republic of Liberia; and Ms. Gisselle Irias, Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs, Panama.
The discussion, moderated by EJF CEO Mr. Steve Trent, also featured a documentary screening on beneficial ownership, underscoring the imperative that “There can be no safe harbour for those who profit from crimes at sea.”
Sankofaonline
