Fishermen carrying their fishing nets off a boat at Jamestown, Accra. |
Fishermen in the
coastal regions of the country have agreed to put a stop to light
fishing as a measure of arresting the consistent decline in the stocks
of fish within the coastal waters.
The decision was
taken at a stakeholders' meeting in Accra, yesterday, to discuss ways of
addressing unregulated and illegal fishing practices.
Speaking at the
meeting attended by all Members of Parliament along the coast, District
Chief Executives and Municipal Chief Executives, fish mongers and chief
fishermen, Mrs Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, Minister for Fisheries and
Aquaculture Development (MOFAD), condemned the reckless exploitation and
depletion of the fishery resources of Ghana which, she said, would lead
to the total collapse of fisheries sector, with serious economic,
social, nutritional and food security consequences that the country
would not be able to accommodate.
Mrs Quaye noted
that if unregulated and illegal fishing practices such as the
indiscriminate use of explosives, chemicals, under-sized mesh nets,
light, bamboo and other fish aggregating devices to fish were not
stopped, the fisheries sector would collapse.
He disclosed that
the Ministry in an effort to salvage the current fish stock depletion
has, therefore, developed a Fisheries Management Plan to provide a
strategic framework to ensure that the fishery resource was harvested
sustainably.
He said the
Fisheries Management Plan would, among others, seek to improve
information on fisheries biology and stock assessment to support a stock
rebuilding strategy; effectively enforce fisheries legislation; protect
marine habitant to conserve biodiversity; reduce post-harvest losses
and reduce the current levels of fishing efforts and fishing capacity.
Mrs Quaye announced
that drones would be deployed on the sea to track the activities of
fishermen and anyone caught involved in any form of malpractice would be
arrested and prosecuted.
In his address,
Hon. Ishmael Ashietey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, urged the
fishermen to understand the actions of the Ministry, abide by the
fisheries law and work to protect the sea. He also urged them to put an
end to practices that pushed the fishes away, thereby, rendering fish
harvest in the artisanal sector unattractive.
Hon. Titus Glover,
Member of Parliament, Tema East, canvassed support for the Ministry in
the fight against illegal fishing practices He advised the fishermen to
desist from employing all forms of unregulated fishing activities to
save the fish stock.
Hon. Dr Zanetor
Agyeman Rawlings, Member of Parliament, Klottey Korle, stressed the need
for everyone to be responsible in the disposal of waste, adding that
sanitation malpractices also affected the fish stock in the sea.
She, therefore,
called on all stakeholders to support the fishing industry by supporting
efforts at fighting against illegal fishing activities.
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