Closed Season: We prefer money instead of the rice and tomato paste – Fishing Gear Owners Association

National Chairman of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana, Nana Kweigyan, has raised concerns over the government's failure to provide adequate support before the closed season.

He lamented that the support provided is insufficient, adding that fishermen have been left with low incomes to support their families during the ban.

He stated that they would have preferred money instead of the bag of rice given to them.

He said the closed fishing season is going to make their feeding very difficult, and the government should put in place measures to make life better for them.

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, he indicated that the government should rather provide proper financial support for each fisherman.

He said, "The biological period of the scientists, which is July, August, and September, is our bumper harvest and our economic period. So we have a situation where the period of the ban coincides with our bumper harvest. They have explained that the period, also known as the biological rest period, is the spawning period for fish stocks. The break from fishing allows the fish to lay eggs for the replenishment of the fish population. But that is the time for our bumper harvest."

"Every closed season is a challenge not only for fishermen but also for the women who smoke the fish and sell it. You can therefore understand that this is an issue that has affected a chain of workers, including canoe owners and other individuals."

"However, as we sacrifice this closed season, we should see the desired results. We should examine the process and determine if we are getting the expected outcomes. The fishermen who don't have other jobs aside from fishing should also be considered," he added.

He disclosed that the distribution of rice, tomato paste, and other items only started in 2021 and continued through 2024, but in 2019, they did not receive any support from the government.

"The distribution of the items began in 2021. The rice and the other items are not enough. It would be fair to say that those who do not have any jobs are the ones who need it the most, so it can be more beneficial. A crew of more than five people sometimes receives only five bags of the 5 kg of rice, which becomes difficult to share. A group of three is also given only a bag of rice, which is woefully inadequate.

"Some of the women were also given freezers; others received fishing nets, but we believe that instead of the rice and other items, the authorities should rather provide the fishermen with a cash transfer because there are people who need it," he told the host.

He was also unhappy that they were not consulted before the closed season was announced.