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You will be jailed for flouting closed season – Fisheries Ministry warns fishermen

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministry has threatened to apply the full force of the law against fishermen who defy the closed season order.

The Ministry announced May 15 to June 15, 2019, as the nationwide closed season for fishing amidst protests by the fisherfolk who insist on July-August as the scientifically appropriate period for the closed season.

But Deputy Sector Minister, Francis Kingsley Ato Codjoe said to Citi News “we have worked with Ghana Navy and we are working with the marine police to patrol the sea for us.”

“When you are arrested, there are laws in our books. We are always going to take you to court and prosecute you. You can be fined. You can lose your canoe and your assets or you can be jailed.”

“We don’t want to get to that point where you will be jailed for going to see. Let’s just comply and let us all be okay. What we are doing is in the interest of the fishermen themselves.”

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture announced set the closed season for May 15 to June 15, 2019.

The closed season is intended to allow fish spawn to improve Ghana’s fish stocks.

But some fishermen have said are not adequately prepared to stay out of work for a month.

They have demanded the date be changed from May to July.

Although they acknowledge that the closure of the fishing season is crucial, they say the May 13 to June 13 date announced by the Ministry is not backed by research.

In 2018, a similarly closed season was proposed but stakeholders in the fisheries sector opposed the ban because of what they said was the failure of the Ministry to inform them ahead of time.

Source:citinewsroom.com

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