Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Hon. Emilia Arthur has charged the newly inaugurated Board of the Fisheries Commission to work to sanitize the Fisheries space.
She said , the Fisheries sector is faced with challenges ranging from illegal activities such as pair trolling and Saiko to pollution of water bodies through galamsey.
She said there was therefore the need to sanitize the Fisheries sector for the realization of the blue economy.
The Minister made the statement during the Inauguration of the Fisheries Commission Governing Board at the Ministry on Monday.
Galamsey is affecting Fisheries when the water is destroyed the chemicals flows back to the sea killing our fishes.
“I urge you to work diligently and resiliently driven by innovation, delivering decent work to contribute to the blue economy”, Hon. Arthur emphasized.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Hon. Emilia Arthur addressing the Board Members
She said the Ministry intends to take the issue of the blue economy to a new level by ensuring the resetting of the Fisheries Sector.
“we are resetting the sea as well”, she added.
She stressed that resetting the Fisheries space requires deeper planning, urging the members to send the Ministry earnest updates that shows progress of their work adding that accountability will be a priority to the Ministry.
Hon. Emilia Arthur on a group photograph with Members of the Board.
On his part, the Chairman of the newly Inaugurated Board, Prof. Wisdom Akpalu assured the Minister of their unwavering commitment support the Ministry achieve it’s objectives maintaining that “we share in your vision and we will make sure we carry it through”.
He expressed worry over the myriad of challenges in the sector stressing that the catch levels have been going down coupled with pollution of our water bodies which he said is affecting the promotion of Aquaculture.
According to him, high cost of feed, and market access for small growers is also a challenge assuring that all the aforementioned challenges would be confronted head on by the Board whilst focusing on the artisanal and industrial fishing.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
