Fisheries Ministry announces 2024 closed season for artisanal fishers and industrial trawlers

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has announced this year’s closed season for both canoes and inshore fishing vessels and industrial trawlers starting from July.

According to the ministry, the move is to consolidate the gains made, while it continues to help to restore the depleted fish stocks.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, disclosed the details of the closed season at a press briefing at the ministry.

She emphasised that thorough consultations with industry stakeholders were conducted before finalising the dates.

To ensure sustainable fishing practices, the artisanal and inshore fleets will adhere to the closed season from July 1 to July 31, 2024. The industrial trawl vessels, on the other hand, will extend their closure until August 31, 2024 the Minister indicated.

Addressing the issue of illegal fishing, Mrs Koomson revealed plans to roll out an Electronic Monitoring System equipped with video recording and Global Positioning capabilities after the ending of the pilot project. This system was installed on three pilot trawl vessels to monitor fishing activities at sea 24/7.

“I wish to inform you that on the 2^nd of April, 2024, I organised a stakeholders’ meeting at the International Conference centre to discuss the results of the 2023 closed season and decide on the 2024 closed season,” she stated.

Stakeholders, she says, agreed that the implementation of closed season has been beneficial. To consolidate the gains made, it was also agreed that the closed season be observed in 2024. I am happy to announce that the 2024 closed season is as follows:

“Canoes and Inshore vessels  will observe the season from  1^st July, 2024  to 31^st July, 2024 while the industrial trawlers will observe theirs from the 1^st July, 2024 to 31^st August, 2024.”

Mrs Koomson highlighted that the implementation of the Closed Fishing Season is based on scientific recommendations aimed at stock recovery. Its objectives include curbing over-fishing, reducing fishing pressure, restoring over-exploited fish stocks, and replenishing dwindling fish populations.