The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) has backed the government’s decision to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA), describing it as a timely and critical intervention to restore the country’s declining fish stocks.

The President of the association, Nana Joojo Solomon, said the fisheries sector was under mounting pressure due to overfishing, weak regulatory enforcement, and an open-access regime that allowed virtually anyone with the financial means to enter the industry.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic last Thursday on the sidelines of a ceremony to rename the NAFAG Hall in Tema after the association’s former President, the late Flt Lt Militides Godfrey Tackey, Nana Solomon said Ghana’s fishing model must evolve to ensure sustainability.

“In Ghana, once you have the money, you can acquire a canoe, nets, and other equipment and go fishing.

But in other countries, there are strict limits, quotas that regulate how many vessels can operate at any given time.

Without such controls, we risk overcapacity and depletion of our fish stock,” he stated.

Nana Solomon explained that the introduction of the Marine Protected Area concept and the enforcement of closed fishing seasons were necessary “austerity measures” aimed at rebuilding depleted fish populations.

He likened protected areas to forest reserves, where designated zones were preserved to allow species to breed and regenerate.

“These protected zones are essentially spawning grounds for fish, and they must be safeguarded if we are to sustain the industry,” he added.

Significant threat

Nana Solomon warned that the decline of the fisheries sector posed a significant threat to national food security and livelihoods, indicating that the industry supported more than three million people and contributed between 60 and 70 per cent of the country’s animal protein intake.

The renamed NAFAG Hall  

“This is not just about fishing; it is about food security and economic survival.

A responsible government cannot sit back and watch such an important sector collapse,” he said.

While welcoming the policy, he acknowledged that its implementation would come with short-term challenges, particularly for fishing communities within designated protected zones.

He said about 21 coastal communities in the Greater Cape Three Points enclave were likely to be directly affected.

He, therefore, urged the government to roll out alternative livelihood programmes, including aquaculture and tourism, to cushion affected fisherfolk.

Honouring a legacy

Paying tribute to the late Flt Lt Tackey, Nana Solomon described him as instrumental in acquiring land and spearheading key infrastructure development for the association.

He said the late leader’s background in the Ghana Air Force and national security helped him to effectively champion the interests of artisanal fishers.

He further stated that as NAFAG President, Flt Lt Tackey served on the Fisheries Commission Board in 2000 and played a key role in combating illegal fishing and promoting compliance with regulations.

Additionally, he contributed to the equitable distribution of premix fuel as a member of the National Premix Fuel Committee.

Family head

The Head of the Nii Nokwei Tackie Family, Samuel Nii Tackie, expressed appreciation to NAFAG for the honour, describing his late brother as hardworking and versatile.

The Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Rosemary Abbey, commended the late Flt Lt Tackey for his role in promoting sustainable fishing and combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing and encouraging compliance among artisanal fishers.

A member of the Council of State and Women’s Representative on the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, Cynthia Komley Adjetey, also highlighted Flt Lt Tackey’s mentorship and advocacy for women’s participation in the sector.