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Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon Moses Anim is appealing to the various associations in the fisheries sector to help the ministry to put an end to the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the country.

According to the Member of Parliament for Trobu Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, it is the ultimate goal of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to eliminate night fishing, the use of dynamite and DTT, as well as any other thing that brings challenges and difficulties to the fishing industry.

Hon. Moses Anim made the appeal at the inaugural ceremony of the Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana (TUMASGHA) at GHACEM Club House, Tema Community 5 on Friday 29th October 2021.

“One of our cardinal advice to the association is to support us to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fish. We want you to support us to eliminate night fishing, the use of dynamite, DDT, and any other thing that brings challenges and difficulties to this industry. We will plead with you that while you form an association, you say no to any illegal fishing”, he pleaded.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries feared that the continuous use of the DTT and dynamite, apart from making it difficult for the country to meet its international obligation and also endangered by EU slapping the nation with an avoidable yellow are killing, bringing diseases and shortening the lifespan of lives in this country.

“We hope this association will help us to throw this challenge behind us for God and country sake. You are a limited liability incorporated therefore we expect you to go by the conduct of the new company act. We expect you to exhibit the corporate governance that will let you be good, and attractive so that others will also emulate or join your association”, he stressed.

He however advised the Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana to be transparent to its members by making accountability and openness its key and also open the floor for every member to contribute during its meetings.

Highlighting the importance of the fisheries sector, Hon. Moses Anim noted that the sector generates production processing, marketing and employment.

He added that the love for fish and fish products by the Ghanaian population has culminated in the fish accounting for 60% of the country’s annual protein intake; thus, it has exceeded the estimated 14 per cent kilogram per annum for the ECOWAS States as the per capita consumption of fish in Ghana is between 20-25% kilogram per annum. Fish contains Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids which have enormous health benefits”, he indicated.

The Trobu Lawmaker indicated the need to ensure optimum utilization of the fishes that are being produced, hence, the ministry is increasing sensitization and awareness creation programmes for fish processors and traders in hygienic fishing handing and processing methods and standards.

“Our processors and traders have been introduced to improved fish handling and smoking technology such as the FTT, Insulated fish containers and improved fish drying platforms. This is to ensure the production of safe and quality fish and fishing products and improve livelihood for our actors in the post-harvest sector”.

“MOFAD and FC are working with our development partners and CSOs to upscale the uptake of these technologies and continuity of the awareness creation programmes. I wish to highlight that marine fisheries management plan 2022 to 2026 and the sector medium-term development plan highlights investment in the post-harvest sector with respect to improved technologies, product diversity, and standard for operation improved market infrastructure and market access” he disclosed.

He, therefore, commended the roles so far played by the various fisher-based associations in the production, utilization, and management of the fisheries resources as working with these associations has made the administration and communication within the fisheries sector easy.

“…the associations act as the vehicle to convene information from government to the various partners. We are therefore excited to welcome Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana to the Fisheries fraternity”, he mentioned.

President of Tuna Merchants Association of Ghana (TUMASGHA) Mrs Janet Ampiah delivering her inaugural speech disclosed that there is research ongoing to come up with a modern way of smoking the tuna to preserve it to last for one or two years for export.

“We are coming up with a world standard of smoking and preserving tuna so that the authorities abroad will accept the smoked tuna and not the one in the can” she disclosed.