10
further revealed that a total of GHS 4,056,476 and USD 800,000 were imposed as fines from the arrests made between the period.
Figure 3 Participants of at the fisheries enforcement Orientation Training in UCC, Cape-Coast
1.4 National Level Support for Small-Pelagics Management Plan – Study Tour
From May 25-30, SSG led a study tour to the Philippines for 20 critical stakeholders from the Ghanaian fisheries sector. The tour was jointly organized by SFMP and the WARFP.
Participants included representatives of the Fisheries Commission and the
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, chief
fishermen, women fish processors, the marine police and FEU and the
Fisheries Alliance. This tour presented a platform for participants
to interact with key stakeholders in the fishing sector. Again,
participants earned the opportunity to learn about the Philippine
experiment with closed seasons, the participation of the private sector in
sustainable fisheries management,
and community-based co-management and enforcement initiatives, such as the
Bantay Dagat
system, a network of volunteer community patrols to enforce marine protected areas and closed seasons among several best practices which can be replicated in the Ghanaian context to revamp
the fisheries sector.
Figure 4 Study Tour Participants
11
Figure 5 Some participants on the Philippines Study Tour Ghana is Ready for Change: The Stakes are
High The Philippines Study Tour has resurrected, in
its wake, a new hope for Ghana’s fisheries management. Drawing from the Philippines
experience of a fishery similar to that of Ghana, participants are hopeful that one of the crucial
management measures necessary for rebuilding the stocks is the closed season.
“I believe a closed season is possible for Ghana to
implement. If the Philippines that has a fishery similar to Ghana’s, has been able to implement
a closed season and seen results, then Ghana can follow suit” – said Nana Duncan, Chief
Fisherman of Elmina and Regional Executive of the GNCFC, in an interview with the SFMP Communications Specialist after the tour.
There are currently traces of changes in behavior as some tour participants and their corresponding groups whom past fisheries projects could not successfully engage, now see the need for the implementation of
some quick actions to rebuild a collapsing fishery. Study Tour participants are now spreading the word; many of them willingly share their experiences with peers on diverse stakeholder engagement platforms
and in their communities. Upon return from the trip, the motivated participants outlined a strategy to communicate lessons learned to their respective stakeholders.
“I believe the idea of closed season and closed areas is very feasible for Ghana. The right thing to do is to throw the idea to the fisher folks and take decisions with them; once they know it will benefit them, I
think they’ll buy the idea”, said Mad. Cecilia Erzuah, Director of Finance and Administration - MOFAD
1.5 Harmonizing Regional Fisheries Policies
