The 2023 Metro Best Fisherman, Samuel Tetteh has sounded a dire alarm over Ghana’s collapsing fish stock, directly blaming rampant pollution and destructive chemical fishing practices for pushing the sector towards a food and economic crisis.
peaking exclusively on Connect FM’s Orokodo News on August 13, Tetteh issued an urgent plea to the Fisheries Commission and government to cleanse the oceanic ecosystem before it’s too late.
“The Fisheries Commission tells us Ghana has the potential for an annual catch of about 400 metric tonnes, but year after year, we fall drastically short,” Tetteh stated emphatically.
“Human waste dumped into the sea, and the deadly use of dynamite, DDT, and carbide by irresponsible fishers are the primary killers choking our marine life. We are poisoning our own future,” he said.
Tetteh painted a picture of a multi-faceted assault on Ghana’s fisheries. Beyond the immediate toxins, he highlighted the disruptive impact of offshore oil and gas operations on fish habitats and the additional stressor of global warming altering marine conditions.
He also forcefully challenged the official narrative often blaming light fishing, arguing the focus is misplaced.
“Light fishing has no toxic effect on the sea. The real, deadly poison comes from chemicals like DDT poured into the water,” he countered.
The award-winning Chief Fisherman demanded concrete, immediate action. His first call was for the Fisheries Commission to spearhead a major initiative to rid Ghanaian waters of refuse and halt the scourge of chemical fishing. More crucially, he urged the government to invest in detection technology.
“We need the Fisheries Commission to procure testing devices immediately to detect fish caught using these harmful chemicals. Identifying and stopping this toxic catch must become the government’s absolute priority,” Tetteh insisted, stressing the direct threat to consumer health.
Tetteh’s frustration extended beyond environmental concerns to deep-seated economic inequity. He contrasted the significant support given to cocoa farmers, like regular price adjustments, with the perceived neglect of the artisanal fishing sector.
“The government adjusts cocoa prices for farmers – what is there for fishers? Who is speaking for us?” he questioned pointedly.
“Look at the national budget – what tangible support is allocated for fishers? We finance almost everything in our business ourselves. The government needs to be intentional; it needs to support artisanal fishers with investment and innovation, just as it diligently supports cocoa farmers. Our livelihoods and the nation’s protein supply depend on it,” he lamented.
He expects the Fisheries Minister to prioritize her engagement with fishers to better understand the sector, such that government’s intervention within that space would be impactful.
Source:3news.com
