Activities for artisanal and inshore fishing around the coast, which had a month off, are anticipated to start up again on August 1.
This year’s closed season was implemented on June 1 by the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to restore the fish supply.
Most of the fishermen were spotted repairing their canoes at Accra’s Ussher Fort Beach, while others were fixing their nets in preparation for Monday’s return to work.
Samuel Quartey, a fisherman, told the Daily Graphic that he was grateful that the closed season would soon come to an end. The products provided by MoFAD, according to him, were insufficient for them to feed their families, and they experienced some financial challenges.
The goal of the intervention is to ensure ethical fishing methods and prevent overfishing of the fishery.
The primary goal of the restricted season is to enhance the lives of small-scale fishermen, other marine resource users, and community members who depend on fishing.
Following Ghana’s receiving a yellow card for using unsustainable fishing methods, the government implemented the limited season idea in 2016 to aid in replenishing the fish resource.
The industry participants feel that it was preferable to let the pregnant fish breed (spawn) rather than sending fishermen out to sea and having them come back empty-handed because research has shown that one pregnant fish has the ability to produce over 25,000 eggs.