Gov’t bolsters fisheries management with R/V Fridtjof Nansen survey

The Norwegian research vessel, R/V Fridtjof Nansen, is undertaking fisheries resource surveys in Ghana waters.

This is a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Government of Ghana and the Norwegian government.

The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, announced this at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday.

She stated that the absence of a research vessel to undertake fisheries resource and environmental assessment surveys made it impossible for the government to assess the real-time impact of measures being implemented in the fisheries sector.

Mrs Koomson noted that the primary objective of the survey is to assess fisheries stock levels of pelagic and demersal resources and assess environmental conditions and level of pollution in Ghana water resources.

“At the end of the survey, the following information and data are expected: Biomass of small pelagic and demersal resources, abundance and distribution of the fisheries resources, biodiversity, condition of the environment and the level of plastic pollution,” she added.

She noted that as part of the 2024 work plan of the EAF- Nansen programme, the survey will cover the Exclusive Economic Zones of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

According to the Minister, the survey started on 9th May 2024 in Cote d'Ivoire waters and will end on 7th June 2024 in Ghana waters.

“The beauty of the R/V Fridtjof Nansen survey is that local scientists from participating countries join the research vessel for hands-on training in survey data collection and analysis for management of the fisheries resources and policy decisions.

“There are eight Ghanaian scientists and nine Cote d'Ivoire scientists on board the vessel for the survey,” she added.