Ghana’s Current Economy Is Not Favorable For A Close Season – Canoe And Fishing Gear Owners To Ministry Of Fisheries

Fishers in coastal communities have expressed mixed reactions to the upcoming closed fishing season, citing a number of factors, especially the current economic challenges facing the country.

While some of them have called for the scraping of the closed season because it is unproductive, others have asked that it must be suspended as a result of the harsh economic condition in the Country currently.

Mr. Kenneth Arthur Association Secretary For Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association speaking to Ohene Addo on Plan B Fm’s  Ebaanosen, indicated that the closed season is a good intervention but it needs proper implementation.

He said that August is the most appropriate period to close the sea, the government should also make cash payments to fishers to offset the anticipated revenue loss during the sit-home period, in the face of the current economic challenges.

He said the close season does not mostly yield the results it’s expected to yield because some fishers continue to engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices, including the use of light for fishing.

He added that since fishers were not benefiting from the closed season, it would be better for the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to scrap it altogether.

He said fishermen had no alternative businesses and relied only on the sea to be able to maintain their homes and so closing the sea for one month without the government making any provision to address their suffering would compound their already worsened plight.

He explained that shifting the closed season to August would allow the fishers to prepare for the closed season.

According to Kenneth Arthur inadequate supply of premix fuel had prevented many of them from going to sea for the past four months, which had worsened the plight of fishers along the coast.

He added that it was important to examine the times and make decisions that would reduce the hardships of fishermen, and that closing the season would not be in their interest.