Making the presentation at Keta in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr Moses Anim, said the Ministry and for that matter government was grateful for the level of compliance from the fishermen in the country and thus the need to show some support and hoped the objective for implementing the closed season fishing directive would be achieved.

The items included 2,620 bags of 25 Kg rice, 2,052 cartons of cooking oil, 144 chest freezers, 362 bundles of wire mesh, and 1,308 basins. The relief items are to appreciate the fisher folks’ support towards the closed season fishing directive and to encourage the use of appropriate methods to fish.

The closed season directive aims to allow the fish stock to replenish to ensure the sustainability of the fishery industry. It is also to encourage the practice of acceptable fishing practices for the needed impacts. The 2022 closed season fishing as announced by Sector Minister, Mrs Hawa Koomson, started from July 1, to August 1, 2022, for artisanal and semi-industrial fleets and July 1 to August 31, 2022 for industrial trawlers.

Members of the national fish processors Traders association which consist of mostly women benefited from the distribution of freezers, bundles of wire mesh and basins. Members of the association from Ketu South municipality received 104 bundles of wire mesh, 44 freezers and 436 basins while their counterparts in Anloga received 168 bundles of wire mesh, 44 freezers, and 436 basins.

Members of the association from keta received 113 bundles of wire mesh, 44 freezers and 436 basins. Each Canoe Council in the three coastal districts also received 10 chest freezers. Additionally, a total of 2,620 bags of 25 Kg rice, and 2,052 cartons of cooking oil were distributed to identified fishermen.

Making the presentation, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr Moses Anim, said the items are to help alleviate the burden the closure of fishing activities brings to fisherfolks. He warned that anyone caught flouting the directive will not be spared by law.

The President of the Keta Branch of the National Fish Processors Traders association, Mrs
Ruby Adukpoh, thanked government for the assistance and assured that members will encourage full compliance with the directive.

Similar presentations are expected to be made in the central, Western and Greater Accra regions.