Volta Inland Fishermen Supports Ban On Fishing

The Volta Inland Fishermen Association has applauded government’s decision to impose a one-month ban on fishing activities in the country.

According to them, the ban would help rejuvenate the fishes and increase stock.

Addressing the media yesterday in Accra, Mr. Sampson Mahu, President of the Association said “For a very long time we have been collaborating with the Ministry to fissile out a close season. There are times we take our nets out, merge them and then we go back to fishing.”

He further urged government to well organize the ban to ensure it is observed by all fishermen.

“Our position is that it should be well organized. We don’t want a case whereby people would be fishing and others are not,” he said.

The Minister for Fisheries, Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye is reported to have announced the ban on fishing activities in the country.

According to her, the ban would take effect from August 7 to September 4, this year.

This has been widely opposed by some fishing communities.

However, the Volta inland fishermen believe it is in the right direction.

Diversion of Premix

Meanwhile the Association has commended the Ministry for its effort in curtailing the issue of premix fuel shortages and diversion.

According to Mr. Mahu, “the steady supply of premix fuel to landing beach committees has great lengths to reverse the perennial challenge of shortages and diversion, which until last year, was a lively threat to the fisheries sector.”

He further appealed to government to support the operations of fisher folks by aiding the acquisition of out-board motors and fishing gears at subsidized prices.

“We also wish to appeal to the Ministry to consider designing an aquaculture module bordering on fish cage farming, irrigation farming as well as small scale animal rearing to help discourage a drift from inland fisheries activities into illicit endeavors like ‘galamsey’ by some fishermen,” he stressed.

He is confident that the effective management of fisheries can be better improved when measures are put in place to ensure that 53% of premix fuel proceeds are ploughed back to fishing communities.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum