Ghana’s industrial trawler fleet has been forced to remain docked, with vessels idle at the port since February 3, following what operators describe as unfavourable fishing allocations at sea.
The Head of Operations of the Association, Isaac Eduafo Mensah, told GhanaWeb Business in an exclusive interview that the new restrictions, which limit operations to within the 12-nautical-mile zone, have led to a dramatic decline in catches.
“Well, now they said we should work. But it’s far off. When you are working there, you cannot catch anything. We have a lot of people depending on our vessels. Each vessel carries 12 sailors,” he said.
“Initially, when you went to sea, you could cast your nets for four hours and haul a good measure of species. Now, within the 12-mile zone, whatever we catch is less than 10 to 12 baskets,” Mensah lamented.
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Previously, trawlers operated in wider areas, hauling up to 60 metric tonnes across West African waters. But the new allocation, combined with reduced net sizes, has left crews struggling to make headway.
The ripple effects are being felt across the fishing value chain. Each vessel supports about 12 sailors, along with fishmongers, port workers, and truck operators who rely on steady supplies.
With vessels grounded, fishmongers cannot buy stock, and communities reliant on the sector are facing mounting economic strain.
“We have a lot of people depending on our vessels. When you go to sea and don’t make any headway, it feels as if we haven’t caught anything,” Mensah added.
The Industrial Trawlers Association is calling for a review of the allocations, urging regulators to reconsider the restrictions and allow vessels to return to more productive fishing grounds. Without such adjustments, the group warns, Ghana’s industrial fishing sector risks deeper economic and social fallout.
SA/MA
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com