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Dates set for 2019 fishing closed season

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission have announced dates for the 2019 closed season to be observed by all fishing fleets.

Date Created : 2/6/2019 2:15:33 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

The proposed dates which were announced by the President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, Flt. Lt. M. Tackey (Rtd) at a stakeholders’ engagement forum on closed season on February 5, 2019 in Tema was duly accepted by the sector Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye on behalf of the MoFAD and the Fisheries Commission.

The dates include:

• May 15 – June 15, 2019 for artisanal fishers (canoes);

• August 1 – September 30, 2019 for Industrial trawlers and

• January – February for Tuna Vessels which is already in force

The Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye in accepting the proposed dates indicated that her outfit would not alter the dates given by NAFAG, in order to forestall the recurrent of the experiences of 2018, where they had to call off the closed season on the basis of timing as reported by many of the industry players particularly the artisanal fishers.

According to her, they want to be as transparent as possible hence the broad engagement with stakeholders, with the option of NAFAG which have representation of all stakeholders advising on the correct timing for the exercise.

She cautioned that the Ministry would not be forced to back down again this time on the implementation of the closed season in 2019, not after they (fisher folks) through their mother association agreed to the time.

She appealed to the leadership of the various beaches to supervise the implementation when the time comes so that the intended objectives can be achieved for the sustainable growth of the fishing industry.

Meanwhile, Flt. Lt. M. Tackey (Rtd), the President of NAFAG has assured the Minister of the readiness of its members to cooperate with the ministry for the implementation of this year’s closed season.

According to her, the implementation of the closed season is not an imposition from the minister, rather an act enshrined in the Fisheries Act, 2002. Act 625 as one of the management practices to prevent the total collapse of the sector. In view of that it behooves on all industry players to adhere to the practice for the good of the industry.

The NAFAG President also called for the following measures to be adopted;

• There should be no supply of premix during the period of the closed season

• Appeal for sponsorship to all chief fishermen to reach out to the fishermen in sensitizing them

• Call for measures to reduce the number of canoes

• Urged the science department of the ministry to make available their research findings to industry players to boost their participation in future activities of the ministry.

• There should be patrol to enforce the laws during the period of the closed season.