AGRICULTURE

EJF praises u-turn on Fisheries Commission decision to allow tuna boats to use light for fishing
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is surprised at a decision by the Fisheries Commission to reverse its earlir stand not to allow light fishing by any fleet in Ghanaian waters, only to offer exemptions to allow tuna vessels to use lights to attract fish in their fishing expeditions.

Date Created : 5/26/2020 9:24:39 AM : Story Author : Ghanadistricts.com

EJF noted that but for the uproar from the canoe fishers, who are equally prohibited from using this fishing method, tuna vessels would have been allowed the use of lights.

“The decision to grant an exemption for tuna vessels is against Ghanaian law in the first place, and the fact that it was only rescinded after the canoe fishers voiced objections raises questions around the transparency in fisheries decision-making”, EJF indicated.

According to the foundation, “In April, the Fisheries Commission granted an exemption to allow tuna vessels to engage in light fishing, following pressure from the Ghana Tuna Association. The vessels were permitted to use the method to catch bait in the waters off Saltpond, in Central region, and Keta, in Volta region. Tuna vessels use live baitfish, such as anchovies and sardinella, in their pole and line fishing operations.

However, in the wake of this decision, tensions grew with canoe fishers, who are not allowed to use this fishing practice. As well as being the staple catch of the canoe fishers, populations of fish such as sardinella – known as small pelagic fish – are under severe strain in Ghanaian waters. Landings of sardinella declined by approximately 80% between 1996 and 2016 and the UN FAO has recommended the complete closure of the fishery to prevent total collapse”.



More surprising according to EJF is the fact that the exemption has come at a time when canoe fishers are already facing severe threats to their livelihoods and food security.

Even a letter from the Ghana Navy, the institution responsible for enforcement at sea alerting the Fisheries Commission that light fishing is prohibited, the possible tensions the exemption could bring between the Navy and fishing communities did not deter the Commission. Hence, on “May 8, the Navy proceeded to arrest two tuna vessels for light fishing in the waters off Keta, in spite of the exemption”.

“In addition to light fishing, tuna vessels benefit from an exemption that allows them to fish for bait in the inshore exclusion zone, which is reserved for canoe fishers. Again, the details of this decision have not been published, nor is there a clear legal basis: Section 81 of the 2002 Fisheries Act prohibits industrial vessels from fishing inside the zone, except in limited circumstances which do not appear to include bait fishing.

Executive Director of EJF Steve Trent while praising the Fisheries Commission for making the right choice in reversing the decision to allow light fishing by tuna vessels, noted that the case raises grave concerns about why the decision was made in the first place without consultation of the affected fishing communities and without basis in law? ”Transparency and inclusiveness in fisheries decision making is crucial to protect fish populations, livelihoods and food security in Ghana”, he added.