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AGRICULTURE

No marine fishing in August

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Francis Ato Cudjoe has given the strongest indications of the implementation of a month long “close season” for the marine sector this year.

Date Created : 6/27/2018 1:55:45 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Unlike 2016, 2017 when the “close season” was limited to trawlers and semi-industrial vessels, this year will include artisanal fishing along the marine for greater impacts.

August has been adopted as the official and suitable period for the implementation of the close season, and it is based on scientific research as the best period for spawning. Thus there will be a departure from previous months when the season was observed; 2016 – November, 2017- February to March.

The implementation of the close season this year, which is one of the measures to avert the rather rapid depletion of the country’s fish stock is non-negotiable the deputy minister hinted.

Addressing the media at a training workshop in Accra, Mr. Cudjoe noted that of all the challenges that the fishing sector may be faced with, the greatest threat is the dwindling fish stock; as such drastic measures would have to be instituted in the national interest to save the sector. Thus all hands must be on deck for the implementation of the close season to help replenish the stock and have those in the fishing business have some value for their investment, as well as ensure national food security.

The one month close season period he disclosed would be followed by strict enforcement of equally important laws including the use of only approved mesh-sized nets when the season is opened in September to avoid harvesting fingerlings as they are very important for sustaining the future of the fish stock.

Ghana is ranked the 5th per capital fish consuming country in the world, with the sector employing about 10 percent (2.7 million) of the Ghanaian population, thus a collapse of the sector would have dire consequences for the country increasing unemployment and threatening food security.

He has assured that MoFAD and the Fisheries Commission would continue to engage various stakeholders in the sector to win their support for a successful implementation of the close season in August this year, adding, the Ministry has gotten the cooperation of fishermen in the Western, Central and Volta Regions. Though there has been some difficulty with Greater Accra, the deputy Minister was optimistic that further engagements would yield positive results to bring Greater Accra to come on board, since the major beneficiaries of the positive results to have inured from the close season would be to the fishermen.

Meanwhile, MoFAD is working assiduously to reduce over capacity in the sector having slashed down the number of vessels from 94 to 73 and still looking forward to further reduction, all in attempt to ensure a viable fishing sector.