The one-month closed season period for fishing will begin today, Friday, July 1, 2022.
The season was slated by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission to start on July 1 to July 31, 2022, for artisanal and semi-industrial fishers.
Industrial fishers are however to observe the closed season from August 1 to August 31, 2022.
The closed season is observed as a way of reducing fishing pressure on stocks when they are most productive.
In a Citi News interview, Acting President for the Ghana National Canoe Fisher Council, Nana Jojo Solomon noted that his members will comply with the directive by the ministry.
“We are prepared. The Council has gone round all the four coastal regions and held workshop meetings for the past two months. The Minister has assured that, fishermen will this time around be given some food items and government-subsidized implements. They have also arranged for a month’s free healthcare screening during the period.”
Every year, the government announces a closed season for marine fishing.
The policy, which commenced in 2019, is in accordance with sections 76(3) and 84 of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625).
It forms part of the government’s strategies agreed with stakeholders to reduce the excessive pressure and over-exploitation of stocks in the marine subsector, and to help replenish Ghana’s falling marine fish stock.
Madam Hawa Koomson further noted that the Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU) has intensified its operations after the 2021 closed season period to ensure that the gains made during the exercise do not go waste by the continuous practice of illegal fishing.
