By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE
Government has announced that the 2024 fishing closed season will begin from July 1 to August 31, for artisanal, semi-industrial and industrial trawl fleets
The announcement and implementation of the closed season by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) is part of a strategy agreed upon with stakeholders to reduce excessive pressure and over-exploitation of stocks in the marine subsector. It aims to help replenish the country’s declining marine fish stock.
Sector minister Mavis Hawa Koomson, who made the announcement in Accra, expressed optimism that implementing the strategy will enable the sector to achieve the desired long-term objective of stock-recovery.
Explaining the schedule, she said Artisanal and Semi-industrial fleets (inshore) will carry out the exercise from July 1 to July 31, 2024; while Industrial Trawl vessels will undergo the activity for two months, from July 1 to August 31 this year.
“The approved dates are based on scientific advice and in consultation with various Fisheries Associations. We are hopeful that compliance for this year will be high as the previous years,” the minister disclosed.
Madam Koomson is optimistic that implementing the measures will ensure sustainability for Ghana’s marine and fisheries resources and protect the fishing industry from collapse.
Meanwhile, MoFAD has acknowledged the ever-increasing challenge of illegal and unreported fishing, and observed that the desired result of implementing closed-seasons will be attained when illegal activities such as the use of poisonous and toxic chemicals, dynamite and other explosives are effectively controlled in fishing.
Though illegal and unreported fishing activities are said to cost the economy an annual value of more than US$50million, MoFAD said it is determined to collaborate with the various fisheries association such as the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association and the Ghana In-shore Fishers Association to end the illegalities.
Data from MoFAD indicate that the fisheries sector supports the livelihood of about 3 million Ghanaians along the fisheries and aquaculture value chain. But stakeholders believe the sector could benefit more Ghanaian families if resources are channeled to fighting illegal fishing activities.
Representatives and leaders of the various associations and other stakeholders have all pledged their commitment to government to abide by the rules in order to enforce the closed-season over the next two months.
The Fisheries Act (2002) Act 625 emphasises the importance of using best scientific information for managing fisheries resources. In line with this, MoFAD and the Fisheries Commission have been implementing Closed Fishing Seasons since 2016 with the main objective of aiding stock recovery.
