FOCUSSING ON FISHING INDUSTRY (NOV 15)

THE importance of modern fishing harbours and cold stores in the economic empowerment of any nation has never been in doubt.
In more ways than one, such projects contribute immensely to national food security and poverty reduction, not to mention the increase in domestic fish production to meet the protein needs of the people.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC is delighted that President J.A. Kufuor yesterday cut the sod for work to begin on a fishing harbour, landing sites and a cold store at James Town in Accra and five other places along the coast in the Greater Accra, Western, Volta and Central regions.
The projects, estimated at $148 million, are being funded by the government, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the governments of The Netherlands and Spain.
The other good news is that each of the landing sites will be fitted with facilities for mending nets, a premix fuel depot, crèches or day care centres, an administration block, a power station, a fish market and net storage facilities.
By all standards these are very laudable projects and we urge whoever succeeds President Kufuor to give them priority attention and ensure that they are completed within the shortest possible time for the good of our people.
But even before the projects are completed, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks it is only appropriate that the Ministry of Fisheries organises programmes directed at improving local artisanal fishing, with components to specifically address issues such as capacity building (training in modern fishing, improved fish handling and fish processing techniques), credit schemes, numeracy, the establishment of co-operative societies, etc, with the view to fully equipping our fishermen for the task ahead.
Today, fish processing is still traditional in nature and limited to fish smoking and fermentation, to a lesser extent. The increasing demand for fuel wood for fish smoking is causing deforestation in coastal areas and the loss of mangrove forests — a situation which is unacceptable, especially when global warming is staring us in the face.
As we make efforts to introduce modern equipment and processes into the industry, one issue we must deal with decisively is pair trawling, which is threatening to destroy the industry. We cannot afford to pump so much money into the industry only to watch it go down the drain as a result of the negative activities of intruders.
Much as these projects would serve as morale boosters to the fishing industry, we pray that we do not allow our poor maintenance culture to run down the facilities when they become functional.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the government’s investment in the fishing industry will yield positive results and put to rest claims that the industry has been neglected.