Marine Law & Ocean Governance

Strengthening legal frameworks and policy advocacy for sustainable blue economy development in Africa

CBEA recognizes that effective ocean governance requires robust legal frameworks, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Through strategic partnerships with leading maritime law institutions, we support African governments in developing and implementing progressive marine legislation that balances economic development with environmental sustainability.

IMLI Partnership

The International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), based in Malta, is the world's leading center for postgraduate maritime law education. Founded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), IMLI has trained over 1,000 maritime lawyers from 170+ countries.

CBEA's Patron's IMLI Connection: Our patron is an alumnus of IMLI, bringing deep expertise in international maritime law, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and ocean governance frameworks.

Strategic Collaboration

CBEA seeks to leverage IMLI's expertise to:

  • Provide technical legal advisory to West African governments
  • Develop model legislation for sustainable fisheries management
  • Train government officials in maritime law and policy
  • Support UNCLOS implementation across African coastal states
  • Facilitate regional harmonization of marine regulations

Our Policy Advocacy Focus

Fisheries Governance

  • Strengthening IUU fishing regulations and enforcement
  • Port State Measures implementation
  • Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) engagement
  • Artisanal fishing rights protection
  • Catch documentation and traceability systems

Maritime Boundary & Jurisdiction

  • Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) claim support
  • Maritime boundary dispute resolution
  • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) management
  • International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) engagement
  • Transboundary resource management agreements

Environmental Protection

  • Marine Protected Areas (MPA) legal frameworks
  • Pollution prevention and liability regimes
  • Ballast water management regulations
  • Ship-source pollution control
  • Coastal zone management legislation

Maritime Commerce

  • Port infrastructure development regulations
  • Shipping registry and flag state obligations
  • Maritime labor conventions implementation
  • AfCFTA maritime trade facilitation
  • Marine insurance and liability frameworks

Blue Economy Innovation

  • Offshore renewable energy licensing
  • Seabed mining regulations
  • Blue carbon credit frameworks
  • Aquaculture permitting and standards
  • Marine biotechnology intellectual property

Engaging Ghana's Government Institutions

Ministry Partnerships

  • Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development: Policy on sustainable fisheries, IUU prevention
  • Ministry of Transport (Maritime): Shipping regulations, port development, maritime safety
  • Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation: Marine conservation, pollution control
  • Ministry of Energy: Offshore wind and tidal energy policy frameworks
  • Attorney General's Department: Legislative drafting, international treaty ratification

Regulatory & Enforcement Agencies

  • Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA): Flag state control, port state measures
  • Fisheries Commission: Licensing, monitoring, control, surveillance (MCS)
  • Ghana Navy: Maritime domain awareness, illegal fishing interdiction
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Environmental impact assessments, pollution permits
  • Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA): Port operations, maritime infrastructure

Parliamentary & Legislative Support

  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands & Natural Resources: Legislative review, oversight
  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport: Maritime sector policy scrutiny
  • Ghana Law Reform Commission: Legal framework modernization

CBEA's Policy Impact Goals

1

Evidence-Based Advocacy

Provide data-driven policy briefs to government using satellite monitoring, fisheries data, and economic analysis

2

Capacity Building

Train 200+ government officials in maritime law, UNCLOS, and blue economy policy by 2027

3

Legislative Support

Support drafting of 5 key marine legislation reforms in Ghana and West Africa by 2026

4

Regional Coordination

Facilitate ECOWAS-level harmonization of fisheries and maritime commerce regulations

Supporting Progressive Ocean Governance

CBEA works at the intersection of law, science, and policy to create enabling environments for sustainable blue economy development. Through partnerships with institutions like IMLI and engagement with government agencies, we help translate international best practices into African contexts.

Policy Briefs

Access our evidence-based policy recommendations for government decision-makers

View Resources

Training Programs

Capacity building for government officials in marine law and blue economy policy

Learn More

Stakeholder Engagement

Participate in policy dialogues and multi-stakeholder consultations

Get Involved