Destructive fishing methods collapsing artisanal fishing – CaFGOAG bemoans

On October 19, 2021, 3:23 PM

The Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) has bemoaned the destruction that illegal and unregulated fishing methods and practices by individual vessels are continuing to force the collapse of Ghana’s artisanal fishing sector.

According to the Association, the ‘Saiko trade’ in particular, a method of fishing which involves the harvesting and sale at sea of juvenile and small pelagic fishes by industrial trawlers to adapted canoes, was the main driver of these illegal practices in the country’s sea.

The Association made this observation in a statement issued and signed by the Chairman of the association, Nana Kweigyah, which called for a timely comprehensive plan to address Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing in artisanal fisheries.

“While we look forward to expediting action on the destructive activities of industrial vessels, it is important to have in place, a comprehensive plan and strategies to be followed to address IUU fishing in artisanal fisheries,” CaFGOAG said.

On this same issue, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), an organisation that works to protect the natural environment for livelihoods, has observed a worrying situation in Ghana.

The foundation has noted that the practice is having a severe impact on Ghana’s ‘small pelagic’ fish populations, including sardinella, are already on the brink of collapse, with landings having crashed by 80% over the past twenty years.

To this end, the Association reiterated its position in combatting IUU fishing in artisanal fisheries, emphasizing that enforcement alone was unsustainable and unreliable.

As such, it has called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission to engage resource users and other stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive plan and strategies that focused on enforcement in addition to deterrence and compliance.

Such broad stakeholder engagement and involvement in ensuring deterrence and compliance in the fishing sector, the Association, has said, would be effective in addressing IUU fishing in artisanal fisheries.

In an observation following the resumption of fishing activities after the 2021 fishing closed season, they said, there has been some improvement in the area of Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ), and commended the sector minister, Madam Mavis Hawa Koomson for the efforts.

“This is not to say that fishing within the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) and harvesting of small pelagic fishes by industrial vessels have stopped, but it is a good step towards addressing the destructive Saiko trade that is collapsing artisanal fisheries,” the statement had it.

The association also thanked the sector minister for restoring premix fuel supply to the suspended fishing communities in both Greater Accra and Central Regions.

It said as key stakeholders in artisanal fisheries, “we are ready to have discussions with the Ministry, the Commission and other stakeholders on this.”

They equally congratulated Mr Percy Dennis Quaicoe on his appointment as National Premix Committee Chairman and wished him well.

The Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana, said, it was hoping that the Chairman would take the needed steps to address the disturbing re-emerging issues with premix fuel supply and distribution.

Environmental Justice Foundation urges gov’t to end illegal fishing

It could be called to mind that Ghana was issued with a yellow card by the EU in 2013, and this was lifted in 2015 as a result of new legislation and a clear fisheries’ management plan.

However, EJF has noted that while these policies were well constructed, they have not been implemented or enforced, allowing the situation to deteriorate and leading the European Commission to re-issue a yellow card warning.

The warning, the EU explained, was because of Ghana’s ability to comply with its duties under international law as flag, port, coastal or market State in relation to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU).

With Ghana being the second country ever to have been re-carded, the Foundation has called for urgent work to be done to eradicate illegal fishing by vessels flying its flag and operating in its waters.

Story By Francis Ntow