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BY: DANIEL ASARE
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur has outlined plans to enforce fisheries laws prohibiting illegal fishing methods as part resetting the sector.
She disclosed this to the press, during a high-level engagement aimed at
promoting open dialogue on critical issues affecting Ghana’s fisheries sector.
Mrs. Arthur highlighted the Ministry’s strategic vision, priorities, and
actions, including promoting responsible fishing practices and addressing the European Union’s “yellow card” sanctions on Ghana
“This year we maintained a close season for the industrial fleet for two
months, July and August. We maintained a close season for the semi-industrial fleet for July and we did not have the close season for artisanal fishes, particularly the canoe fishermen.
Now it has come to our attention that lots of fishermen complied. They
went fishing without lights, without any illegal methods and they really had a bumper harvest.
However, some fishermen refused to abide by the rules and went fishing
with light fishing and other illegal methods. We are using this conversation to sound a warning to all fishermen that as part of the reset agenda to reset Ghana and to reset the fisheries sector, we are going to crack the whip. We are going to enforce the fisheries laws that ban illegal fishing methods”. She said.