The Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mr. Michael Arthur-Dadzie has cautioned fishermen in the country to desist from embarking on fishing expeditions during the closed fishing season.
According to him any person found defying the directive will face the full rigor of the law.
The 2021 closed season commenced on July 1st with Artisanal fishers and the semi-industrial vessels having their season closed from 1st July to 31st July while industrial trawlers began theirs from 1st July to end on 31st August 2021.
Speaking exclusively to ATL FM NEWS, Mr. Arthur Daadzie explained that although most fishers are complying with the directives, some fishermen at the Abrofo Mpoano in Cape Coast have defied these directives.
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“I want to thank our gallant fishers which include fish processors across the length and breadth of this country, especially those in the coastal enclaves for embracing this all-important close season program. We have not encountered any deviant behaviors. Fishermen have embraced the idea, all the canoes are at the shore, the vessels are at anchorage. The closure is total closure to all forms of fishing including even angling or hook and line. We have put a closure on all forms of fishing. I am using this medium to educate the public. It is a collective responsibility for all fishers, the media, and everybody to ensure that we sustainably manage our fisheries resources for the interest of us living and our generations yet to be born.
He said measures put in place for the 2021 closed season are continued to ensure its success.
“Those measures that we have put in place include, but limited to having a navy parade our seas, having our staff and the navy and the marine police patrolling the various beaches. We the staff, including the minister and the deputy minister, have been doing beachcombing, moving from landing sites to landing sites. Ghana navy and marine police and our fisheries’ enforcement units are doing beachcombing and patrolling our waters. I must say that the navy is not only patrolling the waters because of the fisheries close season but they are also performing their dedicated patrols which include warding off territorial enemies, checking money laundering, human trafficking, and other vices that are inimical to the growth and development of this country” he said
Source: Aba Aikins Appah/ATLFMNEWS
