A Non-Governmental Organization, Friends of the Nation has appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to expedite action to reduce the high incident of mammal catch in Ghana’s water bodies.
The NGO believes this will help save Ghana’s fisheries sector.
In a statement to mark this year’s World Fisheries Day, the four organizations further called on stakeholders to sensitize fishers and constituents to desist from illegal capturing of mammals s to ensure a balanced healthy marine ecosystem.
“As Ghana joins the international community to celebrate this years’ World Fisheries Day, Friends of the Nation and Centre for Coastal Management of the University of Cape Coast with support from the Oceans Associated Incorporated (OAI) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) calls on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to expedite action to reduce the high incidence of cetacean bycatch as envisaged in the yet to be gazetted 2020-2026 Marine Fisheries Management Plan.
“We further call on various fisheries associations including the Ghana Trawlers Association, (GIFA) Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, (GNCFC) Canoe and Fishing Gears Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG), National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA) to conscientize fishers and constituents to desist from illegal capturing of cetaceans to ensure a balanced healthy marine ecosystem and sustainability of Ghana’s marine fisheries.”
“Marine mammals, scientifically referred to as cetaceans play a key role in helping to combat climate by contributing to the circulation of nutrients within the water column and the transfer of nutrients between waters of different latitudes. Of greater importance is the role cetaceans play in sequestering an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average from the atmosphere, both directly and indirectly,” the statement said.
Below is the full statement:
Press Release – WFD – 2022 (1)
Fred Dzakpata
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