The 2023 Fishing Closed Season is scheduled to commence and will run from July 1 to August 31, 2023.
Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, disclosed the details of the closed season at the Minister’s Press Briefing which was organized by the Ministry of Information. She emphasized that thorough consultations with industry stakeholders were conducted before finalizing the dates.
To ensure sustainable fishing practices, the artisanal and inshore fleets will adhere to the closed season from July 1 to July 31, 2023. The industrial trawl vessels, on the other hand, will extend their closure until August 31, 2023 the Minister indicated.
Mrs. Koomson highlighted that the implementation of the Closed Fishing Season is based on scientific recommendations aimed at stock recovery. Its objectives include curbing overfishing, reducing fishing pressure, restoring overexploited fish stocks, and replenishing dwindling fish populations.
The Ministry has a track record of implementing closed fishing seasons, with exceptions made in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Koomson shared that during the previous closed season in 2022, the Ministry distributed essential supplies to support affected fishers and processors. This included 20,000 bags of rice weighing 25kg each and 8,333 cartons of cooking oil.
“The Ministry extended assistance to fishers through the provision of 6,000 bundles of wire mesh, 20,000 basins, 1,710 chest freezers, and 1,150 subsidized outboard motors,” she noted.
As part of efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods for fishers, the Ministry and its partners, including the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity, have launched alternative livelihood training programs. These programs initially focus on training 550 fishers in various skills such as masonry, carpentry, dressmaking, hairdressing, electronics, and auto engineering. The training will eventually be expanded to cover 8,000 fishers, with ongoing support to help trainees establish their own businesses and generate income from their trades.
Addressing the issue of illegal fishing, Mrs. Koomson revealed plans to deploy an Electronic Monitoring System equipped with video recording and Global Positioning capabilities. This system will be installed on three pilot trawl vessels to monitor fishing activities at sea 24/7.
Furthermore, the Ministry will implement Ministerial Directives regarding trawl gear specifications to minimize the catch of juvenile fish and bycatch. It will also enforce Directives that limit trawl vessels to a maximum of 30 days at sea for each fishing expedition.
In a regional context, Mrs. Koomson highlighted that Cote d’Ivoire will be implementing its 2023 Closed Fishing Season during the same period as Ghana. Moreover, Togo, Benin, and Liberia are expected to join in next year, demonstrating a collective commitment to sustainable fishing practices in the West African region.
Source: MOI (PR Unit)
