Science And Research Crucial In Fisheries Management

The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has urged stakeholders in the fishery industry to prioritize science and research in fisheries management towards the formulation of sustainable policies.

Mr. Richstar Amafio, a member of the Association, addressing a durbar at Keta in the Volta Region, to mark the World Fisheries Day, said knowledge in fisheries was broad and that research data was crucial in making key decisions on its management.

He said Science had been missing in fisheries management and had led to uninformed decisions especially at the local level, contributing to the dwindling of fish stock in the water bodies.

Mr. Amarfio said following the decommissioning of Ghana's only research vessel, F.R.V. Kakadiamaa in 2001, it was until recently that the Fridtjof Nansen Fisheries Research Vessel called at the nation's port to aid research in the sector.

He commended government for efforts at sustaining the industry and said the sensitization of fisher folks was also necessary in engaging them on the initiative.

Mr. Amafio said the industry needed gear labs to improve fishing gear technologies and called on stakeholders to ensure the active participation of fisher folk in decision making.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a ceremony in September this year to welcome the research ship Fridtjof Nansen to Ghana, said government had plans to purchase a vessel to undertake research in the marine industry towards curbing illegal fishing and replenishment of fish stocks. GNA

By Samuel Akumatey, GNA