WOMEN in fish processing from various fishing communities across the country have called for effective collaboration between them and the Fisheries Commission to help find solutions to the various challenges confronting them.
The women mentioned the use of dynamites and lights for catching fishes, high interest rates on loans, and high cost of fishing equipment and inadequate storage facilities, as the major challenges facing their operations.
At a forum organised by the Development Action Association (DAA) a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to educate women in fish processing on the policies governing the fisheries sector, the women called for an annual meeting with the commission for continuous deliberation on issues pertaining to the sector.
Speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Mike Akyeampong said it was unfortunate that the women were not familiar with policies that governed and protected their interest as stakeholders in the sector.
He said the country had laws that governed the sector, adding that Fisheries Act (Act 625) 2002 outlined some of the “do’s and don’ts” in the sector.
He said sections of the law outlined regulations over exploitation and sustainability of the waters in the country. He added that fishermen should avoid using unlawful ways such as the use of dynamites and lights in catching fish .
He pointed out that the use of bamboo’s and small nets in fishing was unacceptable under the Fisheries Act, and challenged the women to avoid the patronage of fingerlings and light-caught fishes.
The forum was aimed at creating a platform for discussion between the women and the Fisheries Commission.
Educating the fish processors, Mr Akyeampong said the fishery sector played a very significant role in the socio-economic development of the country, and added that the commission in that view had presented a bill on “Fisheries Regulation 2010” before parliament.
He said the bill when passed would help in the setting up of proper regulations that would ensure the smooth running of their businesses.
The women also raised concern about the fact that there was no woman representative on the Fisheries Commission and Mr Akyeampong promised to discuss the issue, as well as other concerns raised by the women, with the sector ministry, with the promise that “ the commission will do anything possible to support you in your various communities”.
The Executive Director of DAA, Mrs Lydia Sasu said the organisation was operating in 50 communities in the country with 98 per cent of the beneficiaries being rural women.
She said its main areas of operation included fish processing, cassava production, vegetable production, food crops production and small animals rearing, as well as the provision of micro-credit.
Mrs Sasu said the objectives of the organisation was to initiate a process of development which was based on the transfer of skills and competencies, to provide support and services for its members and to implement sustainable development programmes in the country.
She appealed to the government to provide the women with storage facilities, a ready market for their goods, and help construct good roads in the various fishing communities and the marketing centres.
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