Some of the participants
A training workshop on fishing safety standards and incident reporting has been organised for some selected journalists and fishers, in Takoradi, the Western Region.
Organised by Friends of the Nation (FoN) and ProSea Marine Education, under the auspices of the Marine SafeNet Ghana project, the training was aimed at enhancing journalists’ understanding and reporting of safety standards, threats and incidents that artisanal fishers face in the country.
Executive Director of FoN, Donkris Mevuta noted that the media plays a powerful role in creating awareness and influencing policy.
“Reporting with empathy, accuracy, and consistency ensures that fishers’ struggles and achievements are seen, respected, and never forgotten.”
“Together, we can ensure that every fisher goes to sea with hope and returns home safely. We can change the story from tragedy to transformation,” he added.
He mentioned that across the world, small-scale fishers are the unsung heroes of food security, coastal culture, and community resilience.
He, however, indicated that globally, fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs.
He revealed that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that more than 24,000 fishers lose their lives each year, while the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports an average of 80 fatalities and 100 injuries every single day.
He said, “Here in Ghana, where small-scale fishers make up more than 90 per cent of our fishing workforce, every journey to sea carries uncertainty. Every time a canoe leaves the shore, a family waits and prays,” he pointed out.
He attributed some of the accidents to poor vessel conditions, limited safety gear, and worsening weather caused by climate change.
“When accidents or near misses happen, the loss goes far beyond numbers: It is the loss of fathers and brothers and the breaking of families and communities,” he explained.
He reiterated his call for the media to align with the mutual effort towards safer, fairer, and more sustainable working conditions for fishers.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi