The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Madam Mavis Hawa Koomson has sympathized with fishermen and women who lose their livelihood during the closed fishing season saying that “most fishers during this season, become unemployed”.
The Minister said this last Wednesday at the Meet-the-Press Series in Accra, to announce the outcome of the 2022 closed fishing season and the commencement of the 2023 closed fishing season.
To mitigate the hardship on fishers during closed fishing seasons, the Ministry in 2022, distributed 20,000 bags of rice, 8,333 cartons of oil, and fish processors to help sustain the fishers during the season. The fishing communities were also assisted with some fishing materials to enable them to work effectively after the closed fishing season, she said.
According to Madam Koomson, the Ministry gave out 6,000 bundles of wire mesh, 20,000 basins, 1,710 freezers and 1,150 subsidized motors to fishers during last year’s closed season. To deal with the temporary lost of livelihood, the Ministry launched alternative livelihood programme such as learning masonry, dress making, carpentry and hair dressing for about 550 fishers.
“Closed Fishing Season begins on 1st-31st July 2023 for the canoe and inshore fishers.1st-31st August 2023 for the industrial trawlers” she said. The Minister also indicated that most fishermen still go fishing even during the closed fishing season and warned that “any person found fishing during the closed fishing season would have their license revoked.”
Dapaah Princess Akua Baffowaa, ISD
