The sector is saddled with challenges which pose a threat to fisher folks in the nation, hence adversely affecting their livelihoods.
The sector Minister, Nayon Bilijo noted that fishing occupations have taken a downward slope due to several challenges such as depletion of fishes in the water bodies which affect the living conditions of the country’s fishers.
Explaining the implications on Joy FM, the Minister said due to the depletion, it is incumbent on the Ministry to undertake some measures to replenish the fish stock in order to boost the incomes of fishermen.
The Ministry, he revealed, through its West African Regional Fisheries project, has allocated an amount of $3m to improve the nation’s fishing sector.
He further explained the projects that the Ministry is initiating to better the lives of the fisher folks.
“The Ministry is considering getting them to adopt alternative livelihoods. Now, the plan is this; we have to align our fishing capacity and efforts to sustainable catch levels and to supporting fishers affected by the reduction with alternative livelihoods. That’s the first stage and this one will involve semi-industrial and industrial fishers because increased effort is not resulting in increased fish catch. We have realized that there’s the need for some of them to reduce their efforts at fish catch. Now, if they reduce their efforts at fish catch, they are going to lose income and therefore money has to be put aside for them to engage in alternative livelihood means.”
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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