Fish landing sites are more than just spaces where boats dock and fish are offloaded; they are the beating heart of coastal communities. They serve as centers of trade, social interaction, cultural expression, and livelihood support for thousands of small-scale fishers and fish workers. However, across Ghana and other coastal nations, these critical spaces are increasingly under threat from competing land uses, industrial expansion, and weak tenure security.
At Friends of the Nation (FoN), we are working to secure fish landing sites in line with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). These international frameworks emphasize that coastal and fisheries-dependent communities have the right to access, use, and manage the resources that sustain their lives and cultures.
Why This Matters
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Protecting Livelihoods: Without secure landing sites, fishers lose their main access points to the sea, threatening income, food security, and community well-being.
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Safeguarding Culture: Landing sites are not only economic hubs but also cultural spaces that hold traditions, values, and knowledge passed down through generations.
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Promoting Equity: Clear tenure rights prevent powerful actors from displacing vulnerable groups, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized fishers can continue to benefit from fisheries resources.
Our Approach
FoN works with fishing communities, traditional authorities, government institutions, and local assemblies to:
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Document and map existing landing sites to strengthen claims of community ownership and use.
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Advocate for the recognition of landing sites within local and national planning frameworks.
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Build community awareness on tenure rights and governance under the VGGT and SSF Guidelines.
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Facilitate dialogue between stakeholders to secure long-term protections for fisheries and coastal resources.
Our Commitment
We are committed to ensuring that coastal communities do not lose their rightful spaces to external pressures. By aligning our advocacy and community engagement with the VGGT and SSF Guidelines, we strive to safeguard tenure rights, strengthen local governance, and promote sustainable use of fisheries resources for present and future generations.
Call to Action
We cannot do this alone. Protecting fish landing sites requires collective action. We invite community members, policymakers, civil society partners, and supporters to join us in this mission. Together, we can secure these vital spaces, uphold community rights, and ensure that small-scale fisheries continue to thrive as a backbone of coastal livelihoods.
👉 Partner with FoN today to protect fish landing sites and the communities that depend on them.