The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has announced that this year’s closed fishing season will start on Monday, July 1.
She shared this information during a meeting with the Greater Accra Canoe Fishermen Council in Accra, emphasising that the initiative aims to conserve the sea and boost its fish production capacity, which has been hindered by illegal fishing practices.
Ms Koomson noted that fishermen would benefit more if they adhered to the regulations. Highlighting the exercise’s significance, she pointed out that global warming and human activities like illegal mining are negatively impacting the sea and its marine life.
The minister dismissed rumours that there would be no closed season this year due to it being an election year, labelling such claims as false.
She elaborated,
“The sea is like a human being; it needs rest. The number of fishermen has increased in recent years, along with the use of electronic gadgets, which affects the sea’s ability to produce fish. This has led to a decrease in the quantity of fish caught, which is the main reason for the closed season.”
To support fishermen during this period, the governmentwill provide relief items, including approximately 27,000 bags of rice and bottles of oil.
Acknowledging that these relief items may not be sufficient for the entire period, she added, “They are meant to provide some support.
” Furthermore, the minister announced that, as part of a livelihood empowerment programme, the ministry will assist the dependents of fisherfolk with sewing machines, dryers, barbering kits, and other tools to help improve their living conditions”.
Consequently, she mentioned that other countries, such as Liberia, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Togo, are also implementing similar measures to conserve their marine environments.
