The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) has reopened the sea to artisanal fishers, effective, Thursday, August 1.
This follows a month-long closure of the fishing season, a measure taken by the government to restore depleting fish stocks.
A ceremony was held at the Akplabanya Beach Site in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region to symbolically mark the reopening of the sea for artisanal and inshore fleets.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, officially declared the sea open and called upon all stakeholders to participate in the conservation of Ghana’s marine resources.
“The close fishing season is a strategy adopted by the ministry and the fisheries commission to contribute to the recovery of the over-exploited fisheries resources, rebuilding of the depleted fish species and reduced fishing pressure on the fisheries resources.”
“So, I would urge the people of Upper Manya in the Ada West to let us move forward with a renewed sense of dedication to conserving our precious marine resources. May this season bring abundant catches and prosperity in the fisheries and aquaculture sector,” she stated.