The Minister of Fisheries and Aqua-Culture Development (MOFAD), Hon Afoley Quaye made a kind gesture on behave of government by presenting a total of 55, 250 fishing nets to the fisher-folks in the Greater Accra and the Central Regions after reopening of the season.
“We don’t want the rubber nets, we don’t want small sized nets and mono-filament nets in our sea any more. This is the approved net that every fisher should use,” the Minister said at the forecourt of the Fisheries Ministry.
The donation is in line with government’s periodic support in the form of fishing equipment to fishermen to help improve their work and boost the fisheries sector.
According to the Minister, the delivery was in fulfillment of a social contract signed between fisher-folks and the ministry before the closed season.
“We made you sign some social contracts prior to the close season. Based on these social contracts, I promised to thank you after. This is a gift we are giving to you. We want you to teach your fellow fishers the right fishing nets to use so that they will stop using the illegal fishing nets in other to reap full benefit of the just ended closed season,” she said.
Between May 15 and June 15 this year, fishing was banned to save some species of fishes such as mackerel, anchovies, and others that are going into extinction in the country’s waters due to poor fishing practices.
The ministry further explained it would also generally allow fishes, in general, to breed thereby increasing their stock to and sustain corresponding bumper harvest for the fishermen
The Minister maintained the call that the closed season was not going to be a one-off process and that it was going to continue year by year until Ghana’s fishing stock improved.
She therefore appealed to fisher folks to sacrifice a little to save the fishing industry and also save them from complaining of low catch.
Hon. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye pledged that the government will continue giving fishing nets to fisher folks in all the fishing districts to avoid illegal aqua-culture practice.
Speaking at the last State of the Nation Address, President Akuffo-Addo, said, his government is keen on boosting the fisheries sector. The President said among other things that, his government was going to distribute 55, 250 bales of fishing nets to fisher-folks.
As co-chair of the eminent advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the President Akuffo-Addo led government is challenged to ensure that fishers follow all the laws governing the sea and stop illegal fishing in other to protect the sea, fisheries and the environment at large.
Addressing beneficiaries of the net at the Premises of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Accra, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye said the ministry, is also in the process of procuring outboard motors and other fishing equipment which will be sold at subsidized price to the fishers.
In their respective vote of thanks after the ceremony, Chief fishermen of Elmina and Teshie: Nana Badu and Nii Wawjan thanked the Minister for fulfilling her promise and wished her well in her task to rejuvenate the fisheries sector.
Source: ritefmonline.org/Christiana Ntiamoah
