Fishermen in Moree in the Central Region have questioned the effectiveness of Ghana’s closed fishing season, calling for greater engagement with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to address the challenges confronting fishing communities.

In an exclusive interview with journalist Elizabeth Aidoo during a visit to the coastal community, some fishermen expressed concerns about the impact of fishing practices on fish stocks and argued that their experiences at sea must be considered in decisions on fisheries management.

One fisherman maintained that the closed season, as currently implemented, was not producing the desired results and appealed to the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, to visit the community and engage directly with fishermen.

He said such an engagement would allow them to explain the realities of their work and the difficulties they encounter at sea.

However, the fisherman also admitted that fishermen themselves were partly responsible for the pressure on marine resources.

According to him, current fishing practices, particularly the frequent harvesting of fish, have contributed to the disruption of natural fishing patterns.

He explained that some fishermen return to sea every one or two weeks to catch fish, sometimes harvesting them before they have grown sufficiently.

He attributed the practice partly to the need to meet the demand for fish among consumers.

The fisherman argued that allowing fish more time to breed and grow was important for the sustainability of the fishing industry.

He further acknowledged that fishing communities could not place all the responsibility for declining fish stocks on government policies when their own activities also contributed to the problem.

“We, the fishermen, are also part of the problem. We have contributed to destroying the natural fishing pattern,” he admitted.

Changing fishing patterns at sea

The fisherman also explained that fishing involves the use of different types of nets, depending on the species they intend to catch.

He said fishermen sometimes have to change their nets based on sea conditions and the availability of particular fish species.

He described periods when the sea becomes still, making it difficult to catch certain types of fish.

During such conditions, fishermen may put down the nets used to catch redfish and switch to other nets to target different species.

He explained that the availability of fish and the conditions at sea influence their fishing activities and the type of catch they bring ashore.

The account highlights some of the practical realities fishermen consider when explaining their concerns about fisheries management.

A call for direct engagement

Despite acknowledging the role of fishing practices in the depletion of fish stocks, the fisherman maintained that the concerns of fishing communities must be taken seriously.

He called on the Fisheries Minister to engage directly with fishermen rather than rely solely on policies developed without sufficient consultation with those who work at sea.

He argued that such discussions would help authorities understand the challenges fishermen face and identify measures that could support both their livelihoods and the protection of marine resources.

Ghana’s closed fishing season is intended to reduce fishing pressure and give fish stocks an opportunity to recover. However, questions about compliance, fishing practices and the effectiveness of fisheries management remain important to coastal communities.

The concerns raised by the fishermen in Moree point to the need for continued dialogue between government and fishing communities, particularly on how to protect marine resources while safeguarding the livelihoods of those who depend on them.

For the fishermen, the message is clear: protecting the sea requires more than policies; it also requires the involvement and cooperation of the people whose livelihoods depend on it.