In a press release, Nana Kweigyah, Chairman of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana, has called for engagement with canoe and gear owners, and other stakeholders, on a comprehensive plan to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country’s marine fishery.
The following is the text of the release:
A closed fishing season is a good management measure in Ghana’s fisheries. However, it can only be effective if illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices are stopped. The “No IUU” pronouncement by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Fisheries Commission (FC) is certainly the way to go, and we support that. As key stakeholders, we are mindful and highly concerned about the dying state of artisanal fisheries in Ghana, and its associated loss of livelihoods, and income, food and nutrition insecurities. The wanton destruction of our marine environment and the recent yellow card placement by the European Union Commission, all resulting from illegal fishing, demands very urgent, impartial actions.
Unfortunately, artisanal fishers are not clear with the ministry’s plan towards enforcing the laws and regulations on illegal fishing practices.
As the leadership of canoe and gear owners, we have engaged artisanal fishers on the use of unapproved nets, fish aggregation devices, and explosives, which Regulations 8,11 and 12 of L.I. 1968 prohibit. However, recent developments in our fisheries have left serious doubts about the commitment to enforce the fisheries laws and regulations impartially to the letter.
The seemingly selective enforcement and selective arrest undermine our collective efforts at combating IUU fishing. Ongoing operations on light fishing, focusing on canoe fishers alone and not on industrial and semi-industrial vessels, are very worrying. Although Regulation 11 of L.I. 1968 has no discretionary provision, we are aware of the Special Dispensation granted to tuna vessel operators to do light fishing, which went on even during the closed-season period, creating among artisanal fishers, the impression that light fishing is not harmful as has been stated. Semi-industrial vessels engaging in light fishing are also known to the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, but the operators are apparently not attended to. It has, therefore, become extremely difficult to impress on artisanal fishers not to engage in light fishing, in the same marine space where other fishers are allowed to fish.
The level of compliance during the 2021 closed fishing season is an indication that artisanal fishers are responsible resource users who will comply with relevant fisheries laws and regulations when enforcement is not selective, and implementation is comprehensive, collaborative and participatory.
We request engagement with canoe and gear owners, and other stakeholders, on a comprehensive plan to address IUU fishing in our marine fishery.