Fishermen in the Central Region, particularly those in Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency, have hailed the Nana Addo-led government's close season implementation.

They admonish that enforcement of the close season has come at an advantageous period to enlighten them and also revamp their fishing business.

According to them, the close season as widely attributed to the New Patriotic Party, has been there even before the Fisheries Minister, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson came in with her nationwide enforcement, following the invention of light fishing which has made majority of fishermen in the country take no rest from the work.

Close season is a period in the Ghanaian calendar where fisherfolks in the country are ordered to halt all fishing activities on the sea for a stipulated time frame, to allow the ocean's small pelagics to grow and also peeve way for pregnant fishes to procreate and fill the sea.

Amid accolades given to the close season, fishermen of Elmina have charged the government to reconsider the month it occasionally set for the close season.

Speaking in an interview with Sompa TV's Eric Annan, the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) Chairman for Elmina, Mr. Charles Eghan noted that thanks to close season, fishermen across the country are given ample time to thoroughly access their fishing equipments like nets, vessels and outboard motors for replacement and repairs.

Other fishermen equally pleaded on the Fisheries Ministry to take a few months back from July, which often witness the close season to a more befitting month for fishermen across the country.

They argued that the period earmarked for the closure of the sea, since last year, hasn't benefited the Ghanaian fishing society enough, as the month slated for the close season appears to be the period fishermen in the country sort to expect bumper catch.

Fisherfolks of Elmina opted for the close season to be fixed either in April or May, based on the fact that fishing activities isn't that captivating from January-May, compared to June-July, and calls for a relook.

The 2024 close season which kicked off on July 1, 2024, has Artisanal and Inshore vessels in the country set to resume fishing activities on 31st July, while Trawlers are mandated to commence operation on 31st August, 2024.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan