The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has underscored the need for current data to serve as a guide to take decisions in the fishing industry.
Better data, she said, was required to guide decisions in the fisheries sector.
“Better data to guide decisions. I have been saying that we have to look at our data again,” Ms Arthur said at a Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Blue Ventures Conservation Programme in Ghana.
Better
Data being quoted, she said, had been old and hence, the need to do better with it and “so we need to do better with our data”.
A few days ago, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Blue Ventures Conservation.
The MOU, she said, reflected a shared commitment to restore the country’s fisheries, strengthen governance in the whole sector and improve livelihoods across the coastal communities.
“As you all well know, our sector stands at a declining moment.
Fisheries remain central to jobs and food security, yet we all know the challenges that we face,” she said.
The minister said the ministry’s focus was clear – stronger governance and enforcement within the government system, within the fisher associations and within industry.
“Our focus is clear in empowered communities, especially women and youth in this sector.
We are very clear on the focus of protection of our marine ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods beyond fishing.
This indeed is a call to action,” she said, adding that the government would provide leadership, and partners must align with the national priorities.
Ms Arthur said partners must embrace stewardship and that required some real work on the part of their associations.
“Our success will depend on what we do together.
As a ministry, we remain committed to clear policy direction, strong regulation and an enabling environment for sustainable growth,” she said.
She said the programme was the continuation of a necessary journey towards restored fish stocks, resilient communities and a thriving blue economy, adding that the “choices we make today will define the future of our fisheries. Let us choose collaboration and obviously that is what we have chosen.”
Step
The Chief Executive of Blue Ventures Conservation, Ebrima Saidy, said Ghana had taken a significant step forward with the establishment of the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area.
That, he said, was not just a policy milestone, but it was a signal that the country was ready to take concrete action to rebuild fisheries and protect the ecosystems that sustained coastal livelihoods.
Blue Ventures is a fisheries and marine conservation international organisation headquartered in the UK.
It currently works in about 15 countries around the global tropics (five in West Africa – The Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana).
It has a goal by 2030 to reach 10,000 coastal communities across the global tropics.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
