Fisheries Minister Commend Fisher-folks For Contributing to a Successful Closed Season.

Hon Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has commended the fishing trawlers for their commitment to the just ended close season.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye has said some fishermen are requesting for an extension of the closed season following the positive outcome of the exercise.

Speaking to Rite FM Morning Ride, the Minister said her comment was based on feedback from some fisher-folks due to the positive impact it had on their daily activities.
“We have observed a very successful close season and the media can attest to it that the fishermen, after resuming fishing on 30th of September, have caught a lot of fish. I have had a lot of calls from fishermen who, say that they would have wished to have, not two months but two to three months close season,” she said.

Sector minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye entreated fishing communities to desist from illegal light fishing.
“The onus is on all and sundry to safeguard the fisheries sector for posterity. We need to be law abiding to avoid all forms of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
“The ban is being lifted but the laws prohibiting light fishing and use of obnoxious chemicals and unorthodox methods of fishing are still in force,” she stated.
She said the closed season, which is in accordance with sections 76 (3) and 84 of the Fisheries Act 2002 (Act 625), aims at helping to reduce excessive pressure and over exploitation of fish stock.
Adding that Ghana’s Fisheries sector contributes $1 billion in revenue each year accounting to about 1.1% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to her, the observance of the closed season this year will mean nothing to the fishing industry if dynamite fishing, transshipment, light fishing and other illegal fishing methods are still in force.
Additionally, she said fish is a major source of animal protein and livelihood for an estimated 2.9 million people employed directly or indirectly.
As the two-months closed-season for fishing trawlers across the country ended on last month, the expectation is that the Ministry for Fisheries and Aquaculture, which implemented the ban, may come up with a technical assessment to analyze the impact of the exercise.
By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org