22 August 2008
editorial
Although we are supposed to be in the fishing season, which should mark a period of abundance and plenteous fishes on the market, the reverse is, however, the situation. Fish is scarce on the market, and the prices exorbitant. The Homowo Festival of the Ga people of the Greater Accra Region is held annually, and the climax of the festivity is supposed to coincide with the epoch of the fishing season, in August and September, which time marks the abundance of fish and maize, which are used in preparing the traditional food of the festival. As a result of the shortage of fish catches this year, the celebration of the Homowo Festival was robbed of its most important icing on the 'Kpoikpoi', which is fish.
Most of our age-long traditional beliefs and practices have stood the test of time, and have offered the best explanations for the successful ecological practices of the traditional people towards biodiversity. These traditional beliefs have been transformed into highly effective instruments, for maintaining balance in the natural environment.
For instance, in the fishing communities, along the coast, Tuesdays were held as off days for our fisher folks, when fishing was not allowed. Such a taboo was meant to offer a scientific explanation for the replenishing of fish stocks, which has kept the fishermen and women in business till today. The Homowo Festival has, from time immemorial, been climaxed by abundant fish in the months of August and September. Therefore, the shortages experienced this year, should be a cause for concern to us all.
The European Union (EU) has severely cut back the volumes of its fishing industry, as a result of over-fishing, which is a menace to marine species. There are, however, fears that Africa will suffer a reverse impact from the EU's action, as some fleets now move south and further deplete Africa's already embattled fishing grounds. The foreign trawlers are decimating our inshore waters.
Even more destructive is the fact that almost 70% of any catch by weight is discharged overboard, thus destroying the smaller breeding stock, to a point where many species are now facing extinction. It is an open secret that Pair Trawling, which involves two vessels in parallel movement with a net between them, is a practice that still goes on, despite the ban on it. The Minister for Fisheries, Mrs. Gladys Asmah, has said that her Ministry lacked patrol boats to effect the ban, which was passed in 2005. As a result, Ghana's fish stock is fast depleting, and government does not seem bothered.
Fortunately, there are appropriate directives to streamline activities of the fishing industry in Ghana, but the problem is that most of them do not have any legal and enforceable backing. Though these directives and laws have been integrated into the Fisheries Regulation Bill, it is still awaiting parliamentary approval, while our fish stock is fast depreciating.
The Chronicle hopes that the situation will not be made to deteriorate, before Parliament is reconvened for an emergency sitting, to pass the Fisheries Regulation Bill into law.
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