The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Ghana has declared the conclusion of this year’s restricted season for canoe and inshore fishermen.
The Ministry congratulated the fishermen for their cooperation over the time during a colourful celebration in Adina, Volta Region, while warning that refractory characters would be severely penalised in future years.
In compliance with Section 84 of the Fisheries Act of 2002, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has instituted a one-month closed season from 2015. (Act 625).
The period also known as the biological rest period is the spawning period of fish stocks.
The respite from fishing allows the fish to lay eggs in order to rebuild the fish population that has been destroyed due to fishing or other natural events.
This year’s closed season, the eighth, began on July 1, 2023 and ended today, August 1, 2023.
Moses Anim, the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, who announced the end of the restricted season, commended the fishermen for their cooperation and warned of harsh punishment for stubborn characters in future years.
Chairman of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council Jojo Solomon in his Address said the closed seasons have proven to help their catch.
“Fortunately, our researchers have told us that statistics are already proving that the closed seasons are being effective and are positively impacting our catch provided we will stop all the illegal forms of fishing,” Jojo Solomon told the gathering.
And one more very important thing, “we are demanding the total depoliticization of the fisheries industry. We need to own our own industry because we do not have any other form of livelihood except this fishing business, so we need to gourd the industry. Why are non-fishers getting so much involved in the distribution of premix fuel?” Jojo Solomon probed.
The MCE for Keta, Maxwell Lugudor in his address requested support from the marine police to ensure a proper enforcement of the close season in subsequent years to help achieve the full impact.
“I have a few requests to make, one is that we need support to ensure that the law on closed seasons is properly enforced because what happens is that some recalcitrant fishers cross the border with their boats to neighbouring Togo to fish thereby reducing the intended impact of the closed season,” Mr Lugudor told the gathering.
