Emelia Arthur
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is poised to protect marine ecosystems, restore declining fish stocks, and safeguard the livelihoods of artisanal fishers.
To this end, the ministry is set to establish its first-ever Marine Protected Area (MPA), where human activities would be managed or restricted to conserve marine life and habitats.
Two key areas have been earmarked for the project-the Cape Three Points in Western Region and the Volta Estuary.
The Minister for Fisheries, Emelia Arthur, explained that Cape Three Points has been selected for immediate action due to its ecological importance and the critical state of marine resources in the area.
This was after the Minister visited more than 20 fishing communities across the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region to solicit the views of fishermen to ensure that the initiative has local buy-in.
She said the establishment of the MPA will mark a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to sustainably manage its marine resources and strengthen coastal livelihoods through environmental conservation.
“A lot of groundwork has already been done by a team working on this initiative. As a Minister, I felt the need to come down personally and engage with the local fishers and community leaders,” she added.
She said, “The communities acknowledged the urgent need for the intervention to protect their primary source of livelihood.
“The fishers themselves agree that something must be done to salvage the current situation”.
She said the proposed MPA at Cape Three Points is expected to support fish stock regeneration, promote sustainable fishing practices, and contribute to long-term economic resilience in the region.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi