ANOTHER fishing season is here and it is heartening that oceanic watchers and chief fishermen along the country’s coastline have predicted a bumper harvest between now and September. (Read our special news feature on pages 16 and 17.)
But the joy, euphoria and sheer ecstasy surrounding the whole event will quickly evaporate when the problems confronting the fishing industry hits us in the face.
Indeed, it is sad to learn that the absence of proper landing beaches and inadequate tools and facilities can aggravate post-harvest losses and make it difficult for the fishermen to reap the fruits of their labour.
The use of the light aggregating device in fishing, pair trawling, the use of chemicals such as DDT and carbide, as well as dynamite and other explosives, are some of the enigmas that have confronted the fishing industry.
A few years ago, pair trawling especially attracted some of our fisher folk onto the streets, demanding solutions from the government.
Even though the situation appears to have improved, it still remains an issue yet to be resolved, especially with wooden semi-industrialised vessels also getting involved in the practice.
The case of the light aggregating device for fishing has become an almost lost case. The practice was largely undertaken with some levels of apprehension until fishermen were made to believe that there was no regulation prohibiting the practice in Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).
Today, fishermen, with impunity, display their equipment with blatant disregard for the harm they are causing the very resource bequeathed to them and on which their livelihoods and those of their descendants depend.
The situation appears to have improved at the front of premix supply but there are still key concerns over the distribution of outboard motors.
For instance, out of 1,000 outboard motors promised fisherman through the National Canoe and Fishermen Association, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) took 650 for distribution, leaving only 365 for the association to distribute.
As for the lack of cold stores with refrigeration facilities in many of our fishing communities all these years, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes the time has come for the government to take a swift action to put the facilities in place.
In September last year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, announced that the Spanish government was providing Ghana with a seven million euro facility to construct and equip six cold stores with refrigeration facilities in some selected fishing communities in the country.
In addition to that, he said the government was sourcing for funds to construct two fishing harbours and 12 landing sites, estimated at about $200 million, as part of measures to address the challenges of safety and post-harvest losses in the industry.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes these lofty dreams will be translated into reality very soon. These are basic necessities for the fishing industry if it must thrive.
Mr Ahwoi has already demonstrated a deep passion for the sector that he heads with the strong conviction that any country that begs for food handouts lowers its esteem in the international community.
The signs of growth in the agricultural sector are showing with the availability of certain staples on the market at reasonable prices.
The Daily Graphic believes that if the right policies are put in place and the proper incentives given to farmers and fishermen, we shall have enough to feed ourselves and for export.
The weather conditions give hope for a bumper harvest during the fishing season and so we urge the government to help fishermen with the inputs to flood the market with fish at very reasonable prices.
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