Fisheries Management Project launched in Takoradi
A sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) that seeks to rebuild Ghana's small oceanic marine fish stocks has been launched in Takoradi in the Western Region.
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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the $24 million project that is expected to run over a five-year period. The SFMP is focused on transforming agriculture, with special emphasis on the fisheries sector.
The USAID has in addition signed an agreement to co-operate with the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) of the Graduate School of Oceanography of the University of Rhode Island (URI) in the United States of America, in the implementation of the project.
The project is aimed at rebuilding the marine fisheries stocks and catches through adoption of responsible practices.
It also seeks to contribute to the government's development objectives towards improved food security, economic growth and poverty reduction.
Ghana's annual catch of small fishes, including sardinella, important for food security, has declined by over 100,000 metric tons in the last decade due to poor management, overfishing and use of illegal methods in catching fish.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ms Sherry Ayittey, performed the launch. She indicated that the fisheries sector generated over US$1 billion in revenue each year and accounted for at least 4.5 per cent of Ghana's gross domestic product (GDP).
She said the sector also provided livelihood to an estimated 2.4 million people or 10 per cent of the population, who were employed either directly or indirectly. In addition, she said fish accounted significantly for about 60 per cent of animal protein consumed in Ghana.
Net fish importer
She said the declining volumes of fish landed were projected to exacerbate considering the increasing demand for fish as a result of population growth. Accordingly, she said, the situation thus called for urgent action.
The minister said the fact that fishermen knowingly or unknowingly and by their actions contributed to the depletion of fish stocks leading to adverse impacts on the management of the very resource supporting their livelihood and food security indicated the complexities and difficulties associated with the industry.
Nutritional status/main staple
The Acting Mission Director of USAID, Mr Andrew Karas, reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to the future of the fisheries resources in the country.