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By Lydia Kukua
Asamoah, RNG
Accra, April 16
GNA – A community was organized in Tsokomey, South Ga
Assembly marking the opening of a five-month closure season of the Densu
Delta will mark the beginning of a period of oyster harvest in the municipality.
The season closing,
observed from November 2018 to April 2019, was aimed at increasing the number of oysters
gatherer stocks in the communities of Tsokomey, Tetegu and Bortianor.
It's the second
season to be observed by communities as part of a co-management program
introduced in 2017 and implemented with support from USAID's information program
Sustainable Fisheries Management Program of the Future (SFMP), the development program
Action Association (DAA), a non-governmental organization, and the Fisheries Committee
Commission.
Oyster pickers
program is one of three pilot projects implemented under the SFMP
in Ghana, to demonstrate the viability of coastal fisheries collaboration
management.
Oysters are said
be an important source of income and protein for communities in and around
Tsokomey.
In 2017, the oyster
the gatherers were organized to train the oyster pickers of the Densu estuary
Association (DOPA) and have been trained in the fundamental science of oyster habitats
and reproduction, the importance of water quality, salinity, acidity and
turbidity-how much dirt and sand is suspended in the water.
Under the
Co-management program, women were trained on how to restore
oyster reefs by returning the old seashells to the estuary to promote new
growing oyster babies and planting more than 10,000 mangrove plants
the roots to serve as oyster habitat.
The observance of
the closing season, a plan to establish an ecological and economic environment
sustainable oyster fishery, has been developed in a participatory way with the
oyster pickers, local authorities, traditional chiefs,
Wildlife Division and Fisheries Commission.
This leaves time for
grow and grow oysters, allowed women to harvest more and
much larger oysters, improving their livelihoods and nutritional value.
status.
Nicknamed the Densu
Durbar Community Delta Oyster Harvesting, it was organized on Monday the
theme: "Co-management: Paving the way for effective management of natural resources
Durability".
Ms. Elizabeth Naa
Afoley Quaye, Minister of Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, congratulated the
women around the area to show a lot of courage to support the effectiveness and
sustainable management of oyster natural resources in the Densu Delta.
"You have not waited
but saw the state of oyster stocks in decline and were ready to take
actions yourself. You aligned your actions with the intentions of the
by aligning your program with our co-management policy project, "she said.
declared.
She said based on
the success of the first closing season and more than a year of scientific data
was collected by the women themselves, the DOPA decided to close the season
for a second period "and today we are here to open this season".
"By closing their
the oyster harvest each year for a specified period, the oyster gatherers of Tetegu,
Bortianor and Tsokomey are dealing with something that is currently threatening the
fish stocks on which Ghanaians depend most.
"They are together
addressing what is known as open access fishing here in Ghana. In free access
fishing, everyone can fish at any time, without any restriction.
Ms. Quaye said
currently, small pelagic fish, also called "fish of the people" anchovies,
mackerel and sardinella have almost collapsed.
Like the science of
Densu oyster gatherers, science shows that the "fish stock of the population" would be
probably completely collapse in a few years unless drastic decisions are
taken, she said.
"I see what you are
to make here as a positive example and a great success that we, MOFAD / FC
can learn from our offer to pilot co-management activities in the
marine and inland fisheries of Ghana ".
She congratulated the
USAID Ghana for supporting the marine fisheries sector through the United States
Government's Feed the Future Program, expressing the hope that such a
significant relationship would continue in marine fish rebuilding efforts
stocks and improve the livelihoods of fishermen.
Mr. James G. Lykos,
USAID Ghana Economic Growth Acting Team Leader, stated that the
The oyster closure period has proven that "when the responsibility for decision-making
is shared between the government, citizens and other stakeholders,
management is more efficient and sustainable. "
He applauded the
the role of the media in highlighting critical issues in the fisheries sector,
good advocacy tool to increase public and private support for the sector,
who was facing several challenges, decreasing the fish stock, and posing
Insecurity in the sector.
Mrs. Lydia Sasu,
Executive Director of the Development Action Association, urged all
members of the community and the traditional leaders of the region, to help maintain and
continue with the oyster closing season to reinforce the stock all year round.
GNA
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