The Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) has called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua Culture Development and the Fisheries Commission to make them active participants in fisheries governance and management even as they look to sanitize the artisanal fishing system and restore marine fisheries.
In a press release, signed by an executive member Nana Kweigya and the Director, Centre for Coastal Managemen, UCC, Prof Dennis Worlanya Aheto, the association said there is the need to include the Association in meaningful stakeholder engagements because they are the actual investors in the artisanal fisheries subsector who have the economic and social decision-making power as to the business of artisanal fishing which drives the whole fisheries economy.
“The era when such key actors are not directly involved in fisheries governance should be over after today. As the actual investors in artisanal fisheries subsector, the Canoe and Gear Owners have the economic and social decision-making power as to the business of artisanal fishing which drives the whole fisheries economy. More importantly, Canoe and Gear Owners own to the decision as to the type and form of fishing practices to apply on a day-to-day basis” the release said.
The association further added that “It is regrettable that Canoe and Gear Owners who are the key stakeholders in artisanal fisheries are left behind in meaningful stakeholder engagements, resulting in huge gaps and weak participation of artisanal fishers in fisheries governance. Canoe and Gear Owners have a critical role to play in making the Closed Season effective, stopping IUU fishing, halting the decline in fish stocks, and rebuilding our marine fisheries.”
Below are full details of the release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2021 FISHING CLOSED SEASON: THE ROLE OF CANOE AND FISHING GEAR OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (CaFGOAG)
Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana acknowledges the fact that fishing closed season in Artisanal Fisheries has come to stay once the implementation is effective. However, success of the closed season cannot be achieved by the efforts of government alone, nor any one specific stakeholder. With this background, CaFGOAG, as part of activities marking the commemoration of World Oceans Day, collaborated with the Centre for Coastal Management (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience), of the University of Cape Coast to organize a day’s workshop on June 16, 2021 for Canoe and Gear Owners, with focus on the 2021 Fishing Closed Season.
This collaboration is significant in the sense that it has created the platform for stakeholders to combine experience and science to influence fisheries policy. The Executive Council, participants, and the entire members of CaFGOAG express heartfelt appreciation to Centre for Coastal Management, (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience), University of Cape Coast for this collaboration and support.
We ask that future programmes and activities of the Association are supported. We also appeal to other fisheries stakeholders for partnership and supports to address the many issues in our fisheries. It is regrettable that Canoe and Gear Owners who are the key stakeholders in artisanal fisheries are left behind in meaningful stakeholder engagements, resulting in huge gaps and weak participation of artisanal fishers in fisheries governance.
Read this too: Closed season dates are scientifically proven to help sustain fisheries resources – Executive Director, Fisheries Commission
Canoe and Gear Owners have a critical role to play making the Closed Season effective, stopping IUU fishing, halting the decline in fish stocks and rebuilding our marine fisheries. The era when such key actors are not directly involved in fisheries governance should be over after today. As the actual investors in artisanal fisheries subsector, the Canoe and Gear Owners have the economic and social decision-making power as to the business of artisanal fishing which drives the whole fisheries economy.
More importantly, Canoe and Gear Owners own to the decision as to the type and form of fishing practices to apply on a day-to-day basis
What then is needed to sanitize the system and restore our marine fisheries is the effective participation of Canoe and Gear Owners in fisheries governance and management. CaFGOAG is resolute, ready and poised for action against IUU fishing to help Ghana come out the Yellow Card status placement by the EU Commission, and also rebuild our marine fisheries.
As MOFAD and the Fisheries Commissions take steps to address the many fisheries issues, we pledge our support and make the following recommendations for consideration towards effective implementation of the closed season:
1. Deepen awareness creation on importance of closed seasons before and during the closure;
2. Produce assessment report of successes and challenges of the past closed season to promote compliance;
3. Institute Participatory Monitoring, Control and Surveillance for the Closed Season;
4. Engage fishers and stakeholders to develop a sustainable plan to combat the widespread
IUU fishing particularly Saiko;
5. Develop harvest control plan and fisheries management plan to promote sustainable fisheries; and
6. Identify and implement alternative livelihood activities for artisanal fishers during the
Closed Season period.
We are hopeful that MoFAD and the Fisheries Commission would prioritize effective implementation of the 2021 Fishing Closed Season and effective participation of Canoe and Gear Owners in fisheries governance and management to bring improvement in our fisheries.
Source: ATLFMNEWS
