Fishermen at Teshie’s Sango Landing Beach are encountering a delay in resuming their fishing activities due to the absence of premix fuel supply after the conclusion of the closed fishing season.
This fuel scarcity has hindered their ability to set out on fishing expeditions, leaving them unable to operate for three days following the end of the closed season.
Nii Adjei Wawadzan, the Chief Fisherman at the beach, revealed that out of the 180 canoes present, only ten have managed to embark on fishing expeditions by purchasing fuel from alternative sources.
Despite the high costs associated with procuring fuel externally, the ten canoes that managed to secure fuel have encountered limitations in their fishing efforts as they are restricted by the fuel’s capacity for longer voyages.
The delayed arrival of premix fuel at Sango Landing Beach has adversely affected the local fishing community, impacting their ability to resume operations effectively.
Nii Wawadzan, who bemoaned the negative impact of the development on their livelihood, said they were unable to cater for their families because, “we have exhausted all we saved during the closed season” .
“Buying fuel other than the premix that is supplied to us is not sustainable,” he said.
“We have gone a whole month without fishing and any further delay in supplying us premix fuel will further exacerbate our situation,” he added.
A similar situation is observed in Jamestown and Chorkor, where fishermen are facing comparable challenges.
Fisherfolk in these areas have urgently called for swift action, emphasizing that their livelihoods are intricately linked to their fishing activities.
Due to the depletion of fish stocks in the sea, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, following the regulations outlined in Section 84 of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), established a closed fishing season.
This initiative, which is part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate fish stocks, also aims to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources.
During this period, canoe and inshore fishermen adhered to the closed season from July 1 to 31, while industrial trawlers are scheduled to observe it from July 1 to August 31.