Government to enforce fisheries laws and regulations

Accra, July 8, GNA - Government would continue to pursue prudent policies to safeguard the marine fisheries resources for the enhancement and promotion of economic well-being and livelihoods, Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development said on Thursday.

Speaking at a seminar to present the research findings from a survey of fisheries resources conducted by R/V Fridtjof Nansen, Ms Ayittey said government would endeavour to imbibe the Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAOs) code of conduct for responsible fisheries safeguard to stocks be it little or much.

“We would strictly adhere to our laws and regulations whilst monitoring closely fishing activities in our waters to avoid any incidences of illegal, unregulated and un-reporting situations,” she said.

Ms Ayittey said fisheries provide a vital source of food, employment and economic well-being of people in the coastal states and must be managed responsibly.

The fisheries survey of Ghanaian coastal waters was conducted from April 1 to April 20 and aimed at strengthening the knowledge base in fisheries with respect to implementing an Ecosystem approach to manage marine fisheries resources sustainably.

The research is part of the FAOs assistance to African member states in the area of ecosystem approach to fisheries through the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)-Nansen project.

It is to provide fisheries researchers and managers the additional knowledge on their ecosystems through the survey on both pelagic and demersal fish resources.

“The long term objective of this project, which is to strengthen regional and country specific efforts to reduce poverty and create conditions to assist in the achievement of food security through development of sustainable fisheries management regimes, is a very laudable one,” she said.

The research was conducted on the background of dwindling catches and changing management regimes, especially human interactions and over-exploitation of fish resources.

Meanwhile, Ms Ayittey said cabinet had approved the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures aimed to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through the implementation of robust port State measures.

The Agreement envisages that parties, in their capacities as port States, would apply the Agreement in an effective manner to foreign vessels when seeking entry to ports or while they are in port.

The agreement, she said, had been placed in Parliament for ratification.

Mr Abebe HaileGabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa/FAO Representative Ghana, underscored the immense potential of the fisheries resources in Africa to transform significantly the economic growth of the continent and improving the livelihoods of its citizens.

While the continent had made much progress in the last decade in restoring fisheries and aquaculture as national and regional development priorities, challenges such as weak human capacities remain a key constraint to a positive transformation of the fisheries sector.

Mr HaileGabriel said the coordinated research initiative through the vessel operate directly in partnership with NORAD, FAO and the Institute of Marine Research of Norway had effectively supported Sub-Sahara African Countries to update the data information on their marine fisheries resources and their results are mainly for the use of the government and partner projects.

“The data and information obtained through the Nansen surveys provided not only vital information for the sustainable management of the marine fisheries resources, but they also contribute to the definition of strategies and policies for this very important sector towards the achievement of food security,” he said.

Dr Kwame Koranteng FAO Coordinator Nansen Project said the project helps promote North-South and South cooperation in scientific research, capacity development, policy formulation and capacity development.

He said the participatory research activities contribute to a better understanding of the situations in the oceans.

Overall, the survey in April found out that the total demersal fish is about the same as in the previous surveys example in 2007.

However, whereas the biomass of some species and species groups have not changed much, others either reduced (sometimes quite significantly - e.g. croakers) or increased (e.g. Snappers).

It said since the demersal fish resources appear stable the current regulations may be kept but fish catches and landings must be monitored as closely as possible.

The survey also found out that the main pelagic fish in Ghanaian waters (Sardinella) was nearly absent in the area; due mainly to the timing of the survey.

On the other hand, Carangids (mackerels) and other pelagic fish have increased.

Since most pelagic stocks are normally shared with neighbouring countries, regional cooperation both at scientific and management levels is necessary; also time series for the whole stock is required, the survey concluded.

It is recommended that a new survey be carried out as soon as possible preferably during the upwelling season to get more information on pelagic fish and the survey should cover the whole sub-region.

Besides, efforts should be made to address large amounts of plastic debris observed on the sea surface in areas close to Accra and Tema