Women fish processors along Ghana’s coastal regions have called on the government, particularly Vice President-elect Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, to address illegal trawling activities that are devastating their livelihoods.
These women have reported significant declines in fish catches due to boundary violations, light fishing, and harmful chemical practices by illegal trawlers. They stressed the urgent need for stricter regulations, better enforcement of closed fishing seasons, and financial relief programs, such as interest-free loans through women’s banks.
The crisis has led to rising fish prices, making it difficult for processors to profit, and has forced some youth to join the struggling fishing trade. Women processors propose solutions, including reducing the number of trawlers, ensuring adherence to closed seasons, and creating alternative livelihood programs for the youth.
The group expressed optimism about the incoming Vice President-elect, describing her as a “mother figure” who would prioritize their plight and work towards restoring the fishing industry’s sustainability.
