The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission announced the 2021 Closed Season from July 1 to August 31.
The close season was an initiative by the government to avoid over-exploitation of the fishery resource and to ensure acceptable fishing practices aimed to improve livelihoods of smallholder fishers, other users of the resource and the interest of folks in fishing dependent communities.
However, after the Closed Season, fishermen in Sekondi, in the Western Region of Ghana have recorded a bumper harvest a day after the sea was opened for business.
SkyyPower FM’s reporter Nana Yaw Kumi was at the scene to report the incident as some fisherfolks he spoke to termed the Closed Season initiative as a good one which will help their business as well as preserve the marine life.
Also, some fisherfolks complained of the high prices of the fishes after the Closed Season as they rather expected the prices to be moderate due to the bumper harvest.
Moreover, they are expecting a reduction of the prices as they believe, most fishermen have not resumed work yet and the real bumper harvest is yet to come.