In another significant development for West African Atlantic tuna, the Ghana Tuna Association (GTA) has had their purse seine and pole-and-line tuna fleets certified as sustainable to the globally recognised standard set by the MSC – helping to meet the growing demand for sustainably sourced tuna.
The MSC assessments by Control Union (UK) Limited followed a rigorous, independent process that examined the fisheries’ ecosystem impacts, stock health and management measures. GTA’s certification shows what is possible when a group of fishers opt to be guided by science and international best practice.
The fleets operate in the Atlantic High Seas and the EEZs of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Liberia. Fishers target skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and land their catches at the ports of Accra and Tema, Ghana’s trade gateway.
Both fisheries have a comprehensive management plan for the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), adopting guidelines and conservations measures set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). The industry has also invested heavily in skipper and fisher training, endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) strategy development, and improved data collection and monitoring to verify responsible fishing operations.
Frank Aihoon, President of the Ghana Tuna Association, said: “This is a proud moment for the Ghanaian tuna industry and a significant milestone for the country’s seafood sector. Achieving MSC certification would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our members, industry stakeholders, improvement project partners, and management authorities. By meeting this internationally recognised benchmark, we are demonstrating our strong commitment to sustainability, the continued development of the Ghana tuna industry, and our responsibility to help leave a healthier ocean for future generations.
In November 2024, the CAPSEN and Grand Bleu fishery harvesting Atlantic tuna off Senegal became the first fishery in western Africa to achieve MSC certification.
