The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has distributed relief items to fisher folks and fish processors at Keta in the Volta Region.

This is to cushion the fisherfolks during the closed season when they cannot undertake any fishing activity.

The items distributed include 2,620 bags of 25 Kg rice, 2,052 cartons of cooking oil, 144 chest freezers, 362 bundles of wire mesh and 1,308 basins.

Addressing the fishers during the presentation in Keta, the Deputy Minister, Mr Moses Anim, said the closed season directive was to allow the fish stock to replenish to ensure the sustainability of the fishery industry.

He said the relief package distributed to fisherfolks was the government's appreciation for their compliance with the closed season directives.

He advised the fishers to abide by the fishing laws and desist from engaging in illegal fishing activities during and after the closed season.

The President of the Keta Branch of the National Fish Processors Traders Association, Mrs Ruby Adukpoh, thanked the government for the assistance and assured that members would encourage full compliance with the directives.

In a related development, the sector minister, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, led a team of officials to the Central Region to distribute relief items to the fisherfolk in the region.

Similar presentations are expected to be made in the Western, and Greater Accra regions.

The 2022 closed season of fishing started on July 1 and will end on August 1, 2022, for artisanal and semi-industrial fleets and from July 1 to August 31, 2022, for industrial trawlers.