Outgoing Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Development has disclosed that Ghana was on
the verge of being banned by the International
Commission Conservation of Atlantics Tuna,
European Union (EU) and the United States as a
result of unorthodox fishing in the country.
According to Mr. Nayon Bilijo, "The European
Union, for example, threatened to ban the
importation of fish and fish products from
Ghana as part of global fight because of the use
of agro-chemicals in fishing."
The minister noted that Ghana engaged in
dialogue from 2010 to 2012 to address the
problems confronting the local fishing industry.
Mr. Nayon Bilijo, who made this known during
the inauguration of GHAVIE Shrimps Pilot
Project at Ada-Foah in the Greater Accra Region,
said the International Commission Conservation
of Atlantics Tuna, EU and US rescinded their
decision because of government's fight against
the unorthodox fishing practices, which have so
far yielded a lot of dividends.
GHAVIE Company Limited is a Ghanaian and
Vietnamese partnership. It is the first shrimps
farming project on the Africa continent with the
capacity to produce 15 million shrimp post
larvae per month and create 2,000 jobs for
Ghanaians within a period of five years.
The fisheries minister noted that the use of
unorthodox fishing methods had negatively
affected the industry.
He mentioned that the Fish Health Unit would
continue to discourage the use of chemicals and
fishing with light along the coast in the country
in order to create jobs.
Nene Abraham Kabu Akuoko, Paramount Chief of
the Ada Traditional Area, who was the chairman
for the occasion, appealed to government to
continue to bring in investors that would be
ready to create job opportunities for the youth
in his area.
The traditional area has abundant natural
resources, he said, and called for partnership
that would prevent the migration of the youth.
He also promised to release adequate lands for
investment ventures.
Source: Daily Guide
