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AGRICULTURE

Fisheries Ministry announces 2024 closed season

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has announced July 1 to July 31, as dates for the 2024 closed fishing season for canoes and inshore vessels.

Date Created : 5/31/2024 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Irene Wirekoaa Osei/ Ghanadistricts.com

Industrial trawlers will cease operations for two months, from July 1 to August 31. This decision is to enforce the progress made in recent years and support the government’s efforts to replenish depleted fish stocks.

She made the announcement at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday 29th, 2024 She stated that thorough consultations with industry stakeholders were conducted before finalising the dates.

“The Ministry has intensified its engagement with stakeholders in preparation for the 2024 closed fishing season. Educational efforts about the exercise have been extended to the majority of fishermen. The chief fishermen have been well-informed ahead of this year’s exercise,” she noted.

The Minister expressed hope that there would be no disagreements with the fishermen, given the extensive sensitisation and engagements undertaken by the Ministry.

“We have expanded it this year. We used to bring only a few executives but this time we added some of the other members and … I believe education has gone deeper than it has always been.”

Mrs Koomson reiterated plans to introduce an Electronic Monitoring System equipped with video recording and Global Positioning capabilities.

The system, which was installed on three pilot trawl vessels to monitor fishing activities at sea 24/7, will be rolled out after the end of the pilot project.

The implementation of the closed fishing season is based on scientific recommendations aimed at stock recovery. Its objectives include reducing fishing pressure, curbing over-fishing, restoring over-exploited fish stocks and replenishing the dwindling fish population.