Some members of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association at the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi on Monday protested against government's decision to ban fishing activities next month.
According to them, they have contracted huge loans for “fishing season”, and that they will incur massive losses if the ban is not lifted now.
The demonstration was staged at the Albert Bosomtwe-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi in the Western Region.
Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission announced a ban on all fishing activities in the month of August.
The move, according to the Ministry, is to ensure that pregnant fish are able to give birth and feed properly on the ‘chlorophos’ that would be supplied during the season.
The exercise, dubbed ‘Closed Season’, is expected to begin on August 1 and end on August 31, when all activities on the sea by the fisher folks would be suspended.
Fishing would, however, resume in September.
But some fishermen and fishmongers operating at the fishing harbour in Sekondi have called on the government not to go ahead with the decision to place a ban on fishing activities.
They asserted that the month of August was the bumper season and that it was wrong for the government to ban fishing activities during the period.
Some of them claimed that they had never witnessed a ban on fishing activities since they started fishing many years ago.
They also indicated that they had gone in for loans and that if the government goes ahead with the ban, they would not be able to pay back and take care of their families.
They asserted that the implementation of the decision would adversely affect them and their families.
The leader of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association at the Albert Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbor in Sekondi, Francis Eshun said August was the time for record bumper harvest on the fishing calendar and that the ban won't favour them.
He, therefore, pleaded with the government to reconsider its decision as it will have dire effects on fishermen
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Mathew Dadzie
