By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Feb. 03, GNA – The Canoe and Fishing Gears Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) is partnering the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to address the widespread illegalities in the artisanal fisheries sector.
It was part of decisionsthat were taken at a maiden meeting between Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the National Executive Members of CaFGOAG led by its National President, Nana Kweigyah.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the outcome of the meeting, Nana Kweigyah said they discussed the widespread illegalities in the artisanal sector and the challenges that artisanal fishers face.
He added that CaFGOAG was invited by the minister to come up with initiatives for the ministry’s support towards addressing issues in the sector, such as the use of explosive and obnoxious chemicals.
Other illegalities are light fishing and the use of illegal nets such as undersized mesh and monofilament nets.
He said some of their challenges bordered on erratic premix fuel supply, mismanagement of premix fuel distribution, challenges with fishing inputs such as outboard motors, as well as absence of insurance and pension schemes for small-scale fishers.
He called for a rethinking of the relationship between the ministry and artisanal fishers, emphasising that canoe owners played a critical role in the artisanal sector and wielded a lot of influence that could be leveraged to bring about changes.
According to him, if canoe owners were given active roles to play in fisheries management rather than being managed as passive actors, it would bring a lot of change in the sector.
The CaFGOAG national president appealed to the minister to pay particular attention to social protection for artisanal fishers while addressing the challenges within the premix fuel sub-sector, which, according to him, in the last few years hindered the progress of the sector.
He expressed contentment with assurance from the meeting for the ministry to reintroduce a pension scheme for fishers and support fishers’ initiatives at addressing the widespread illegalities in the artisanal sector.
He added that the promise to ensure prudent management of the premix subsector and strictly monitor the 53 percent of the premix fuel margin meant for community development to ensure that fishing communities benefit greatly from the premix fuel margin was also reassuring.
He added that it was refreshing to hear from the minister on the decision to exclude artisanal fishers temporarily from the annual closed fishing season while considering the establishment of closed fishing areas.
GNA