CLOSED FISHING SEASON: MATTERS ARISING
Brief history
A closed fishing season is a period in which fishing activities are suspended, often referred to as a biological rest period, to aid in the spawning of fish in specific areas.
According to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, this practice dates back to the 1800s. The US Congress passed the Alaskan Salmon Law in 1896, which introduced closed areas in spawning streams and prohibited evening fishing and fishing on weekends. Approximately 200 million people rely on fish and its products as their primary source of animal protein, with another 90 million depending on fisheries as a livelihood, as indicated by Motta in a 2015 study.
Fishing in Ghana is a significant source of income for coastal communities, playing a remarkable role in socio-economic development, as reiterated by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD). The concept of a closed season was introduced in Ghana in 2016 as a recovery strategy to replenish stocks, reduce overfishing, and recover from overexploitation in fishing.
Opinions of fishers
Some members of the fishing community view this move as unnecessary and unwarranted, meeting its implementation with spirited resistance. Information gathered from one fisherman who identified himself as Ekow Amoasi at Cape Coast, Ola fishing community, suggested that this whole exercise only restricted access to water bodies, decreased already declining fishing opportunities, and aimed at worsening the financial plight of the fisherfolk.
His view was corroborated by Fiifi Yawson, who claimed to have fished for about 35 years. Interestingly, few members of the fishermen believe that the closed fishing season was primarily instituted to benefit foreign fishing vessels at the expense of local fisherfolk.
Others have argued that the institution of the closed fishing season has not yielded the desired results. Another group indicated that the closed season was a good intervention but lacked proper implementation and would be glad if the government could compensate for the loss of revenue during this period and extend the period to create the best atmosphere for spawning to yield greater results.
It was also mentioned that if measures were not put in place to avoid illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, the closed fishing season would be a lost cause. According to a report by Daily Graphic dated June 30, 2022, the president of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), Nana Kweigya suggested that August was the most appropriate time for the ban on fishing activities, which he claimed was backed by science and would also afford fishers adequate time to prepare for the closed season.
Fishery resource and the essence of closed fish season
Fishery resources, although renewable, could be depleted if not properly regulated. Over the years, many natural marine resources, so to speak, are gradually declining. This could be attributed to overfishing, over-exploitation, and other human activities. According to FAO, fish stocks have continued to decline, and drastic measures should be put in place to avert this impending global problem.
Some of the strategies imposed to control overfishing and over-exploitation are fishing gear restrictions, a moratorium on new entrants, closed areas, and observer enforcement of regulations. The motive of a closed fishing season is to ensure and promote the conservation of marine resources so that fishermen can get maximum benefit. In the absence of this measure, fish productivity will decrease, leaving dire consequences for the fishing community. A closed fishing season allows enough time for spawning and for fish to lay eggs to replace lost ones. One could argue that the recovery activity, although backed with good intentions, is not yielding maximum results due to lack of education and frequent community engagements with fishers, diminishing roles of traditional authorities in fisheries management and their associates. This subsequently breeds misinformation and speculations, which could thwart the efforts of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD).
Closing remarks
I am of the considered view that there should be extensive consultation with the fishery industry coupled with massive public education and engagement to address all concerns related to the closed fishing season. Regulatory bodies of the fishing industry could resort to all available educational platforms such as traditional print media, television programs, radio, blogging, social media, community information centers, where interactions should be in the local languages of the target group where applicable. Catchy jingles, for instance, that feature reputable fishermen, community leaders, religious leaders, and traditional authorities would be an efficient way to spread an idea that would be met with a rousing welcome. This approach, I believe, would go a long way to improve the current situation.
Story by Matilda Naadu Aryeequaye
