Experts Propose Financial Support, Vocational Training Ahead of Sea Closures in West Africa

Mr. Kofi Agbogah, a speaker from Hen Mpoano, addressed the issue of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa at the International Conference on Ocean Governance 2024. Speaking on the theme “Emerging Issues in Ocean Governance and Blue Economy in West Africa,” he emphasized the importance of providing alternative solutions, such as insurance products, for fishermen before implementing closed fishing seasons.

Agbogah explained that giving fishermen advance notice of six months would allow them to save money. “The food aid we provide during the closed season, such as rice, garri, and oil, is not enough to sustain them,” he noted. “But if a fisherman can save GHS 50 or GHS 100 a day over six months, they will have money to fall back on. However, we can’t let them spend all their earnings and then suddenly announce the sea closure.”

He called for the development of financial products, particularly insurance schemes, where fishermen could contribute during the fishing season and receive payouts during the closed period. Agbogah also advocated for the government to explore alternative income sources and vocational training for young fishermen, enabling them to acquire skills in trades such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, or electronic repairs. “If they find other trades that offer better income than fishing, many will switch, leaving a smaller, more sustainable group in the fisheries sector,” he added.

Agbogah also addressed the issue of licensing small canoes, a mandate that has been ignored since the law was enacted in 2002. “If the law says we must license and register canoes, and after 22 years nothing has been done, someone is failing to enforce the law,” he said.

He explained that the most intense fishing occurs between June and September, during the upwelling season when fish come closer to shore to breed. Overfishing at this time has significantly reduced fish populations, with some species, like sardines, being overharvested before they can reproduce. “For every fish harvested, you are potentially wiping out 50,000 eggs. If this continues, the fish stock will keep declining.”

Agbogah pointed out that Ghana is the fourth-largest exporter of tuna to the European Union, and while tuna stocks are currently stable, sustainable practices must be enforced to avoid depletion. He urged for careful management of the country’s fishery resources, including tuna, which is regulated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Source:dailydemocratnewsonline.com