Ghana?s fisheries industry in crises

The fisheries ministry has conceded that the country?s fisheries sub-sector is in crisis following what officials are describing as over-fishing.

The ministry is warning that without a drastic change of attitude in the sector, the dwindling fortunes of the industry will continue.

The warning comes as fishing experts from across the continent and beyond gather for a four-day summit in Nigeria to discuss ways to stimulate small-scale fish farming and to improve aquaculture on the continent.

The fishing sub-sector, according to statistics, has the lowest growth rate in the Agriculture sector in Ghana even though it improved from 2.8 percent in 2002 to 3.5 percent in 2004.

Fish experts say the situation in Ghana is an apt reflection of the general situation on the African continent.

According to the World fish Centre, stocks of fish in African waters were so depleted that a 20 per cent increase in fish farming would be needed to maintain consumption at its current level.

The Centre blames this trend on large-scale commercial farming that over exploits food stocks as well as endangers the environment.

And the experts who are meeting at the fish for all summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja will certainly have a lot ?fishy? issues on their plates.

Ghana?s Fisheries Minister, Gladys Asmah will be representing Ghana at the summit.

She tells JOY Business Report that her ministry will embark on a campaign to check over-fishing in Ghana.

?I believe that one of the reasons why we have the overfishing problem is because people have invested so much in it. There are so many vessels catching fish. We are encouraging businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs to move into aquaculture as a business venture,? she said.

The minister indicated that government is lining up some incentives to attract private investors to venture into aquaculture as a way of getting around the problem.

? We have already started planning with the Water Research Institute and we have put up a new dam. Everywhere there is water; we will stock it with fish. We are very serious with it because if we don?t we will have a hard time,? she said.

What remains to be seen is whether the fish for all summit will come out with practical and implement able measures to provide ensure fish for all in Africa.