ACCRA: The Canoe and Fisheries Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) has called for the establishment of a Safety and Fisheries Sector Coordination Division within the Fisheries Commission to address growing safety concerns among small-scale fishers. The association underscores the increased risks to life and property due to climate change and adverse weather conditions impacting the artisanal fisheries sector. According to Ghana News Agency, Nana Kweigyah, the National President of CaFGOAG, emphasized the urgency of state intervention to enhance safety measures for small-scale fishers. Speaking before a webinar focused on strengthening legal frameworks for human rights protection in small-scale fisheries, Kweigyah highlighted the association's efforts in educating fishers and disseminating weather and ocean data in collaboration with the Ghana Meteorological Agency and the Regional Marine Centre of the University of Ghana. He noted that these initiatives require sustained state support for effective im plementation. Kweigyah advocated for the draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill to explicitly include safety as part of the Fisheries Commission's responsibilities. He suggested that the establishment of a dedicated Safety and Fisheries Sector Coordination Division would be instrumental in addressing sea safety and coordinating with non-state actors in the sector, including various fisher organizations. CaFGOAG also proposed the formation of small-scale fisheries organizations to work alongside the Fisheries Commission. These entities, which could take the form of cooperatives or associations, would assist in managing artisanal fisheries, protecting their interests, and conserving resources. The association believes these collaborative bodies would play a critical role in advancing the sector's interests and ensuring sustainable practices.