The fisheries sector serves as a major source of employment, livelihood and a way of life. The fishing industry employs about 2,200 people who are directly or indirectly involved in fishing related activities. It has both forward and backward linkages to other economic activities with a plough back from the sector going in to finance other commerce.
The industry in Ghana has the industrialized, semi-industrialized and canoe. The sector provides artisanal sector provides over 60% of the total fish requirements and consequently the bulk of the country’s protein requirements.
The fishery sector also employs over 50% women and links with other sectors in providing raw materials especially the food processing companies and the hospitality industry whiles employing the services and products of other sectors to operate.
Current issues affecting the fishing industry have rendered many jobless, whereas many devise crude ways of fishing; some use light and some use other harmful chemicals for fishing just to meet their expected levels of catch for export, cost of canoe motors, other canoe accessories and fishing net.
Can this be the best way to address the issue of gradually reducing output of Fisherman?
An up-close with fishermen in Tema fishing harbor reveals the magnitude of problems bedeviling the fishing sector.
A decline in the fishing industry means food security and availability to Ghanaians is at stake. This makes it a great concern to the fishermen at Tema fishing harbour.
According to Mr. Kwei Ofori Darko, head of canoe owners association, fishermen in Ghana have been grappling with excessive illegal fishing by the Chinese and other foreigners. These foreign fishermen use patron ships in their fishing expeditions which drag all the fingerlings and destroy the mangroves which provide cover for the water body and the fishes.
The fishermen also complained about the inability of the government to crack down on these illegal fishermen, “government is aware of these actions from the Chinese people and because they have been influenced with money from these foreigners, they’ve decided not to do anything about it. Even some of the local people are allowed to use chemicals and light to fish because they can afford to pay money to some of the officials in government; Complained, a fisherman.
The fishermen are appealing to the government to do something about this development. It will serve the best interest of the generality of the Ghanaian fishermen if immediate steps are taken by the very relevant stakeholders to ensure these problems are nipped in the bud.
