Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, has announced that the government has decided to insure all fishermen in the country against disasters. He stated that the government was aware of the high cost of fishing gear in the country and the frequent disasters that had befallen them.

“… The insurance for the fishermen would be known as “Fishermen Life Insurance Scheme (FLIS). The government has decided to register fishing boats and canoes operating in the country to make distribution of fuel to the landing beaches easy. The government are also making the necessary efforts to regulate the cost of fishing gears in the country to make them affordable…” He added.

Mr Quansah further expressed concern about how fishermen abuse the fishing laws of the country through the use of banned methods of fishing. This includes pair trawling and the use of light and chemicals, cautioning that the government does not take lightly the use of unapproved methods of fishing

The Deputy Chief Executive for Gomoa West, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah also appealed to fishermen to report their colleagues who use banned methods in fishing to the authorities: “There is the need for all of us to contribute to make the fishing business lucrative.”

This is a positive step towards the advancement and improvement of the fishing industry in Ghana and we hope that it is put into motion soon.