Research into migration of fishes

Tema, Feb. 12, GNA- A fisheries consultant has urged the Fisheries Research Department to initiate research into migration of fishes to help fishermen know when to embark on fishing expedition.

Mr C.K. Annan, the consultant who was discussing problems confronting fishermen in the fishing industry with the President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) Flt. Lt. M.G. Tackie (RTD) on Wednesday, noted that migration of fishes has changed for the past couple of years.

That is why fishermen should mobilise resources to embark on fishing expedition at the time they consider fishes have migrated into Ghanaian waters.

Mr Annan said migration nature of fishes is to go to areas where they could get food, and explained that Tuna is highly migrating fish, and they come to Ghanaian waters to get anchovy, which is their food. In addition, the temperature pattern also determines how fishes move, for there are certain times that fishes move from the North Pole to South.

Mr Annan said since fishing expedition is like hunting, where a hunter has to go to the bush a certain time, herrings migrate to Ghanaian waters in July, August and September, and that is when there is bumper harvest.

Of late this is not the case, fishermen sometimes get herrings in November and it looks like there is a change in climatic conditions that was why the fisheries research unit should do some more research to find out the new trend.

Flt. Lt. Tackie said the fisheries research department presently has no vessel that could help them to undertake any research activities adding research should be a process, therefore, the Fisheries Commission should ensure that they secure a vessel for the programme.