The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emelia Arthur, has announced a strategic change regarding the 2025 closed fishing season, indicating that it will not be implemented for artisanal fishermen.
Nonetheless, she emphasized that the closed season will remain in effect for inshore and industrial trawlers.
The minister assured the community that the government is committed to exploring alternative measures to safeguard fishery stocks and achieve the goals initially intended by the introduction of the closed season.
This announcement came during her recent engagement with fishermen in Shama, located in the Western Region.
“President John Dramani Mahama has stated that this year’s closed fishing season will be implemented for semi-industrial and industrial trawlers. However, the President has indicated that there will be no closed fishing season for artisanal fisherfolk this year,” she said.