The Minister of Fisheries Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye has said that there have been challenges against the fight against illegal fishing in the country with some behaviors of fishermen.
According to her, some fishermen are adamant to the call by the ministry to put a stop to the illegal fishing making it difficult for the law passed seven years to work.
The Minister made this known at the world fisheries day held at Keta in the keta Municipality.
According to Afoley Quaye, the ministry will stop at nothing to make sure that they sanitised the fisheries in the Ghana.
She bitterly complained about fishing with obnoxious chemicals killing people and causing damage to the water bodies.
She has however pleaded with citizens to help in the fight against illegal fishing by reporting to the officers of any illegal activities in the fishing industry.
On the SFMPs recommendations, she said they are leading efforts to open up closer dialogues with fishermen, fish processors and others whose livelihoods depend on the sustainable management of fisheries stocks.
She said, SFMP is working with the fisheries commission to adopt a policy framework on fisheries co-management that will give local communities the opportunity to directly manage their own fisheries resources.
“Co-management is a system in which local fisherfolks share responsibility for decision making with government and is a global best practice in fisheries management” she explained.
The Ghana energy advisor, Mark Newton said Ghana is facing considerable challenges with overfishing and illegal fishing activities by both Ghanaian and foreign fishing vessels.
The Awormefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri who was also the chairman for the program urged the fishermen to put an immediate stop to the illegal fishing.
The MCE for Keta, Seth Yormewu also advised fishermen to help the government make a better fishing industry for all.
This year’s celebration of the world fisheries day highlights the direct involvement of fishermen, fish professors, and local fishing communities in the Fisher-to-Fisher Dialogue led by the Ghana fisheries commission, GNCFC and USAID.
The program empowers local fish stakeholders to work closely with the ministry of fisheries and Aquaculture Development to implement the national fisheries management plan.
Meanwhile, some fishermen who spoke with joy news complained about low catches in recent times and that it would be very difficult to stop illegal fishing activities.
According to them, they want law amended to favour them.
