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Company News of Monday, February 11, 2019
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2019-02-11
Fishermen want the government to do more than it is currently doing to fight illegal fishing
Fishermen in the central region are calling on the government to ensure that all forms of illegal fishing methods are stopped to make sense of the closure of this year's season.
The Ministry of Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, has announced the closure of the artisbad fishing season from Wednesday, May 15, 2019 to Saturday, June 15, 2019.
The decision aims to reduce overexploitation of fish stocks in Ghana's marine waters.
In addition, it is part of the measures to rebuild Ghana's fish stocks, which are rapidly depleting.
According to harvesters, respecting the season's closure this year will mean nothing to the fishing industry if dynamite fishing, transhipment, light fishing and other illegal fishing methods are still in effect.
The fishermen revealed this when the African working group of the Council of the European Union met with fishermen from the coast.
In August 2018, the government postponed the closure of the fishing season for all fishermen because of many disagreements on the fishermen's front.
The government has postponed the closure to 2019, in which it was hoped that the issues raised could be resolved.
Fishermen in the Central Region want the government to do more than it is currently doing to combat illegal and unregulated fishing activities.
"The trawlers really worry us. They are still there. These trawlers drag our nets and destroy them with as few complaints as possible. If we eliminate that and the light peach, the government would not even need to close the season, "said Kofi Akono, a fisherman.
Another fisherman, Kweku Aggrey, lamented that trawler activities and the use of dynamite and light fishing affect their activities.
Nana Obrenu Daabom III, president of the Central Region of Ghana's National Council of Fishermen and Canoes, called on the government to address the problems affecting fish stocks before the closure of the campaign is announced.
A delegation from the African Council working group of the European Union met coastal fishermen to understand the challenges facing the sector. Head of the political section of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Paola Silver was optimistic: if the fisheries resources were protected, communities along the coast would be developed.
"Fishing is a very important issue in Europe and we know it is also a very sensitive issue in Ghana. So we came to meet local communities to understand the problems badociated with them. Plastic nets and other challenges that affect their activities. Until now, the feedback we have received is very positive. We will continue to help Ghana solve fisheries problems, "he said.
Kyei Yamoah of the Friends of the Nation said that stakeholder consultations were ongoing and that over the years, the concerns of fishermen and their problems had been brought to the attention of decision makers.
He was confident that the consultations would lead to positive results for the implementation of the closed season this year.
Far Ban Bo, the Sustainable Fisheries Management Projects and the Environmental Justice Foundation, have stepped up their education and awareness activities in coastal areas to protect fish stocks.
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