Air surveillance improves ocean governance

Accountable fisheries management

GHANA: The French Falcon 50 maritime surveillance aircraft in Ghana has marked a significant operational milestone for fisheries governance in West Africa and broader efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea, underscoring the growing importance of coordinated, technology-driven approaches to fisheries governance in the FCWC region.

In a region where marine resources are central to economic security and livelihoods, such initiatives represent a critical step toward ensuring sustainable and accountable fisheries management.

The patrol, which is being coordinated by FCWC and EFCA, involves Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana, with the Falcon 50 currently surveying Ghana's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The inspection provided an opportunity to assess the aircraft's surveillance capabilities and align expectations as joint operations continue under the EU-funded West Africa Sustainable Oceans Programme (WASOP).

This deployment reflects a broader shift toward integrated, technology-enabled monitoring systems aimed at strengthening regional responses to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

At the request of the French Navy, the aircraft underwent a detailed inspection by a team from the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), as well as other national maritime authorities. The inspection provided an opportunity to assess the aircraft’s surveillance capabilities and align expectations during the joint operations under the EU funded West Africa Sustainable Oceans Programme (WASOP). 

Upon deployment, the Falcon 50 transitioned from inspection to active surveillance operations across Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Designed for maritime patrol, the aircraft combines radar detection, AIS data integration, electro-optical imaging, and infrared sensing to provide a comprehensive maritime picture.

Operational flights demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to detect vessels at significant distances, identify those not transmitting AIS, and collect high-resolution visual evidence to support enforcement actions. The platform also enabled real-time communication with vessels via maritime VHF channels, strengthening both verification and compliance mechanisms.

A central feature of the mission was the integration of Ghanaian authorities directly into the surveillance platform. Liaison officers from the Ghana Navy and the Fisheries Commission were embedded onboard, working alongside the flight crew to interpret observations and guide operational decisions.

This approach ensured that surveillance outputs were immediately contextualized within national regulatory frameworks. As highlighted during operations, while aerial systems can detect and document activity, distinguishing between compliant and non-compliant behaviour depends on local knowledge of fishing practices, licensing regimes, and maritime patterns.

The presence of national officers also facilitated real-time coordination with onshore command structures, enabling faster response to identified risks.

Under the coordination of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea and within the framework of the Yaoundé architecture, the Falcon 50 deployment offers a replicable model for other FCWC member states. The project demonstrates how short-term, high-capability interventions can strengthen long-term surveillance systems when aligned with national frameworks.

 PHOTO: © Adobe Photostock Licence: gordzam - stock.adobe.com

Poachers intercepted and arrested Collaborative efforts needed to address maritime security