International Foundation organizes workshop for Ghanaian boat owners and skippers

Government has pledged support for the fishing industry, to enable it to continuously provide source of nutrition, employment, and to promote the economic well-being of Ghanaians.

Mr Nii Amasah Namoale, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, in-charge of Fisheries, who gave the assurance, said the industry that was growing sluggishly in the country needed vigorous revamping.

He was speaking at a day’s workshop, organized for boat owners (fisher folks) and skippers in Ghana, by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, a group that undertakes science-based measures for long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks globally, in Accra on Wednesday.

The event provided a forum for the participants to share ideas on the fishing industry, especially the activities of purse seine tuna vessels.

Mr Namoale appealed to fisher folks to engage in responsible fishing in order to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

He said: “Fishing technology has improved worldwide with its negative effects, as targeting or trapping endanger species such as marine birds and animals, which are often discarded.”

Mr Namoale commended the Foundation for organizing the workshop for the country’s fisher folks to share ideas and update their knowledge in fishing. Dr Jefferson Murua, a scientist, working with the Foundation, said the event would help find solutions to problems facing the fishing industry.

He said the Foundation was undertaking "anti-Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD)" campaign world-wide , and that “FAD in the Ghanaian waters are the same in other territorial waters.”**