The Chief Fisherman at Axim, Nana Kofi Bentil, is unhappy that no positive impact has been recorded after the government’s closed artisanal fishing season ended.
The closed season which lasted from May 15th to June 15th was meant to enable the country’s fish stock to replenish.
But since the period ended, fisherfolk across the country have complained that yields have not increased, and the exercise was a waste of time.
According to Bentil, this could have been avoided if the closed season had occurred between August and September as had been originally suggested.
“When they wanted to start this exercise, the scientists who were consulted suggested a period from August to September.”
He added that the chosen time was poor as catches are generally low in May and June meaning a closed season at that time was unlikely to do much to build up fish stocks.
“They rather chose May to June and honestly between May and June we usually don’t catch a lot.”
An estimated 13,000 artisanal canoes were affected by the ban which was issued by the Ministry of Fisheries.
Industrial trawlers are also expected to observe their closed season from August 1st to September 30th.