In this light, the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) is having a series of engagements with Landing Beach Executives to build consensus to combat destructive fishing practices and illegalities in Ghana's artisanal fisheries sector.

Nana Kweigyah, the National President of CaFGOAG, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the engagement has commenced at Sekondi and would continue in the Central, Greater Accra, and Volta Regions.

He indicated that the engagement provided a platform for frank dialogue on the challenges the sector and artisanal fishers face, as well as the shared responsibility to uphold best fishing practices.
He said, "Landing beach executives acknowledged the urgent need for collective action to curb harmful practices of bottom trawling and the harvesting of juvenile species, light fishing, and the use of obnoxious chemicals, explosives, and unauthorized nets, which continue to deplete fish stocks and undermine the resource's sustainability."

According to him, CaFGOAG continue to demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding the sustainability of Ghana's marine resources, adding that the crucial engagement sessions with the landing beach executives from various fishing communities would help them build consensus on addressing destructive fishing practices in the fisheries sector, and the widespread illegalities in the artisanal fisheries sector that combines to pose significant threats to the livelihoods of fishing communities and the long-term health of Ghana's fisheries sector.

Nana Kweigyah noted that key agreements that would be reached during the weeklong engagement would be shared with MOFA and the Fisheries Commission for further deliberations and actions.

"The ongoing engagements mark a significant step towards ensuring that Ghana's fisheries sector remains a viable source of livelihood for future generations. CaFGOAG remains resolute in its commitment to protecting marine resources and promoting the development of marine artisanal fisheries to improve the economic well-being of fishers and workers in small-scale fisheries," he added.

He called on all stakeholders to join hands in this crucial fight against destructive fishing practices and widespread illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.