Samuel Tetteh
The Fisheries Commission has been called upon to spearhead a major initiative to rid Ghanaian waters off refuse and halt the scourge of chemical fishing.
The 2023 Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Best Fisherman, Samuel Tetteh who made the call claimed that the country’s fish stock is depleting.
He attributed the decline partly to the rampant pollution and destructive chemical fishing practices.
He said human wastes dumped into the sea, and the deadly use of dynamite, DDT, and other harmful chemicals by irresponsible fishers are also choking the country’s marine life.
He also mentioned the disruptive impact of offshore oil and gas operations on fish habitats and the impact of global warming altering marine conditions.
He said the focus is misplaced when authorities blame the collapsing fishing industry on light fishing.
He stated, “Light fishing has no toxic effect on the sea. The real, deadly poison comes from chemicals like DDT poured into the water”.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the Fisheries Commission and the government to institute measures geared towards cleaning the oceanic ecosystem before it is too late.
“The Fisheries Commission tells us that Ghana has the potential for an annual catch of about 400 metric tonnes, but year after year, we fall drastically short,” Tetteh indicated.
He suggested that the Commission could procure testing devices to immediately detect fish caught using the harmful chemicals.
He indicated that identifying and stopping the toxic catch which pose threat to the consumer, must be the government’s absolute priority.
He called for more support for the artisanal fishing sector adding, “The government adjusts cocoa prices for farmers but what is there for fishers?”
“Look at the national budget, what tangible support is allocated for fishers? We finance almost everything in our business ourselves”, he revealed.
He said the people’s livelihoods and the nation’s protein supply depend on the fishing sector.
“So the government ought to support artisanal fishers with investment and innovation, just as it diligently supports cocoa farmers,” he pointed out”.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi