Closed Season Extended In Elmina to Punish Fisherfolk For Engaging In Light Fishing

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, says the Ministry is also extending the close fishing season for all the fishermen at the Elmina, and also denying them premix fuel as punishment for their unwillingness to renounce light fishing. The Fisheries Minister also said this on Saturday while reopening the

fishing season for Canoe and Inshore fishermen at a ceremony in the Sekondi in the Western Region. By the close of today [Saturday] and tomorrow [Sunday], all the landing beaches will have premix fuel, except Elmina, because we don’t want them to go fishing. We will also refuse them some premix fuel. The logistics that they

need from the government to go fishing, we will not give to them for some time, the Minister said. Fishermen in Elmina and Cape Coast have said a ban on light fishing will affect their work negatively. They also say since the introduction of pair trawling on Ghanaian waters, they are unable to get enough fish without the use of light.

The Minister indicated that the restrictions will be lifted when there are indications of compliance on the part of the fisherfolk. The 2021 closed season for fishing took effect from July 1, 2021, for both artisanal and semi-industrial fleets. This is also done annually to restock depleted marine fish stock. The closed season too was observed for the first time in 2019.