Govt lifts ban on artisanal and inshore fishing

Ghana's Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) has reopened the sea to artisanal fishers beginning Thursday, August 1.

This comes after the government closed the fishing season for a month in order to replenish depleted fish stocks.

A ceremony was organized at Akplabanya Beach in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region to commemorate the reopening of the sea for artisanal and inshore fleets.

Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, officially proclaimed the sea open and urged all parties to help conserve Ghana's marine resources.

"The close fishing season is a strategy adopted by the ministry and the fisheries commission to contribute to the recovery of the over-exploited fisheries resources, rebuilding of the depleted fish species and reduced fishing pressure on the fisheries resources.”

“So, I would urge the people of Upper Manya in the Ada West to let us move forward with a renewed sense of dedication to conserving our precious marine resources. May this season bring abundant catches and prosperity in the fisheries and aquaculture sector,” she stated.

Source: Lead News Online