Government Sus­pends Entrant And Registration Of New Artisanal Canoes For 3 Years

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD) has placed a three-year moratorium on the entry of new canoe in Ghana’s marine sector.

Statistics from MOFAD shows Ghana’s canoe fleet has increased from 8,000 in 1990 to over 12,000 in 2023.

The moratorium is to help the government regulate the increasing canoe fleet to prevent fisherfolks from depleting Ghana’s fish stock.

It will also help the government to make informed management decision concerning the welfare of small-scale fishers while safeguarding their future.

Speaking at a news conference to announce the initiative, sector minister Mavis Hawa Koomson said the moratorium will take effect from 1 October, subject to annual review.

“I would like to implore all fishers and our stakeholders to commit to intensify engagements on how best to address issues of overcapacity and degradation of the environment in the artisanal sector.”

She said, “This must be discussed dispassionately taking into consideration the fact that we must sacrifice today to feed the future. Together we must do all it takes to ensure profitable and sustainable management of Ghana fisheries resources.”

“On this note, I wish to formally announce the moratorium on new artisanal canoe entrants which takes effect from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2026,” Koomson added.

THANK YOU for constantly reading stories on MyGhanaMedia.com, a news publishing website from Ghana. Kindly like, follow, comment, and SHARE stories on all social media platforms for more entertaining updates!