Some excited fishmongers doing brisk business at the beach
Fishermen operating from the Bosumtwe-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi have recorded bumper fish harvest after a month ban on fishing, known as Closed Season, was lifted by the Ministry for Fisheries and Aquaculture on Saturday, July 31.
The fishermen have therefore, expressed gratitude to the government for the implementation of the one-month Closed Season on fishing to allow fingerlings in the sea to grow and multiply and also replenish the fish stock in Ghanaian waters.
According to the fishermen, the result of the closed season is the bumper harvesting they are now experiencing, and said they are ready to support the Closed Season policy.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson had indicated that the Closed Season was based on scientific advice and has been done in consultation with the various fisheries associations and groups.
During a visit to the Bosumtwe-Sam Fishing Harbour on Tuesday, both fishermen and fishmongers were enjoying the bumper harvest and were doing brisk business.
Traders trooped to the beach upon the announcement of a bumper catch.
In separate interviews, some of the fishermen admitted to DAILY GUIDE that at the initial stages they did not understand the reason for the ban on fishing.
“In fact when this government introduced the Closed Season policy we did not understand the whole thing and some of us did not agree but we can now testify that it was a good move,” they pointed out.
The chief fisherman at the fishing habour, Nana Kwaw Kotu said he was so happy with the turn of event because fishermen returned from their fishing expedition with a bumper catch.
He expressed his gratitude to the government for the bold decision taken to replenish the fish stock, saying “the one month Closed Season has helped the fishermen to take care of their health and families within the period.”
According to the chief fisherman, the Closed Season also gave the fishermen the opportunity to carry out some maintenance on their canoes and fishing accoutrements.
He expressed the hope that fishermen would continue to abide by any initiative in the fishing industry by the government that would help improve their standards of living.
He, however, called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to ensure that there is constant supply of premix fuel and diesel to enable the fishermen to do a good job.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi