In Ghana’s small-scale fishing sector, traditional systems of reporting incidents at sea have often relied on oral accounts, which, while important, are rarely strong enough to trigger swift action or justice. As the pressure on marine resources grows and the threats of unreported incursions, unsafe encounters, and illicit activities increase, there is a need for new approaches that combine technology, innovation, and community-based monitoring.
At Friends of the Nation (FoN), we are co-developing practical tools with artisanal fishers that transform oral reports into credible, time-stamped, and verifiable documentation. These innovations are helping to protect lives, strengthen accountability, and fast-track justice in the fisheries sector while safeguarding the prospects of Ghana’s emerging Blue Economy.
Unreported Incursions, Incidents and Illicit Activities at Sea
FoN is actively engaged in identifying, documenting, and addressing these critical challenges:
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Unreported incursions: We monitor and report cases where foreign and industrial vessels unlawfully enter artisanal fishing zones, putting small-scale fishers at risk and undermining national sovereignty.
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Near misses and incidents: We work closely with coastal communities to track unsafe encounters between artisanal canoes and industrial fleets, which often lead to loss of fishing gear, injuries, and serious threats to human life.
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Illicit activities: From illegal transshipment (“saiko”) to unlicensed operations and suspected trafficking, FoN collaborates with communities, regulators, and enforcement agencies to expose and curb practices that compromise national laws and the sustainability of marine resources.
How We Do It
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ALON Mounted on a fishing vessel at Dixcove
Community-based monitoring: We train and support local monitors to gather credible evidence of incidents at sea and channel these reports through structured systems.
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Technology and innovation: Working with artisanal fishers, we are pioneering tools that use GPS, time-stamps, and digital evidence collection to replace oral reports with stronger documentation. One example is the ALON device by NAVCAST, which offers vessel monitoring, e-logbooks for catch reporting, SOS alarms for emergencies, and real-time communication with shore. ALON also provides weather and sea condition forecasts, enhancing safety and decision-making for fishers. Such innovations are critical in ensuring stronger documentation, faster response to emergencies, and better enforcement of fisheries laws.
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Data-driven advocacy: By collating and analyzing reports, FoN ensures that the voices of fishers are amplified in policy spaces, while decision-makers have the evidence they need to act swiftly.
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Partnerships for enforcement: We work with state institutions, security agencies, and civil society to strengthen surveillance, improve accountability, and promote safer seas.
ALON Mounted on a fishing vessel at Dixcove
Why It Matters
Every unreported incursion, near miss, or illicit activity not only jeopardizes the safety of fishers but also undermines national security, coastal livelihoods, and the sustainability of Ghana’s fisheries. Left unchecked, these threats erode trust in governance systems and compromise the potential of the Blue Economy. By integrating technology, innovation, and monitoring systems like ALON into fisheries governance, FoN is ensuring that justice is fast-tracked, safety is improved, and accountability is enforced at sea.
Call to Action
We invite stakeholders, partners, and concerned citizens to join us in shining a light on what often goes unseen at sea. Together, we can protect livelihoods, strengthen accountability, and ensure that Ghana’s waters remain a safe, secure, and sustainable source of life.