My father taught me how to fish. At the time, there was nothing like an outboard motor, we worked with man-power)
It’s the legacy of their forefathers.
Handed down from generation to generation.
A tradition deeply built in custom and belief.
Here in the sekondi Ngyiresia community, Fishing evidently plays a critical role in their society.
For decades, age-old fishing techniques, stories and rituals have been inherited, forging a strong sense of identity and unity.
Centuries of traditional fishing have supported coastal economies, cultures, and environments.
But, current fishing practices are now a stark difference from the norm.
(Cut to footage of modern, unsustainable fishing methods: light fishing)
(Kwasi- the difference is that, when our forefathers taught us to fish, there was plenty of catch. But now the catch has declined.)
Kwasi Kakra is arguably one of the oldest fishermen at Ngyiresia landing beach.
Over the years, he’s gathered significant skills and experience.
For Kwasi, the current decline in fish stock is worrying.
We are suffering now, since fishermen started using light, we started suffering, when the light wasn’t available, the fish came in its own season. But now they use light in the water, and the fish do not come even when it’s their season.
Modern methods, like the use of dynamite and light fishing, are threatening the very existence of the fish.
in the olden days we never sent light to sea nor used it in fishing. And although Dynamite was in existence, we never sent it to see either. The stock was plenty and fish sometimes would be washed to the shore. But since fishermen started using light in fishing, the fish stock has declined. If I show light to you face right now, definitely your eyes will burn. It’s the same thing that happens to the fish, and they are declining
Kwabena Essoun has been fishing in this community for over 30 years.
At first we used to fish without chemicals, and so we had plenty of fish, and we never struggled to catch them.)
The difference now is that, today, fishermen use light in fishing, and they catch the fish in the deep waters. With the light, they catch both mature fish and fingerlings. Without the light, the fish would naturally come closer to the shore, but they no longer come to the shore. Because of this, we no longer get some fish. But those who use light are able to catch them. However, they end up destroying the fingerlings because they are not mature. You cannot smoke them nor fry them.)
Angered at the increase in illegal fishing practices in present times, he says government authorities are doing enough to stop it.
If government says, the use of light must be stopped, then it must be stopped. However, the same government authorities who go about advocating for a stop are the ones being bribed. It’s making the work they do ineffective. We often hear that they have seized the light from fishermen, but later on, they give the equipment back to them. The use of light is really disturbing our work.)
Over the past years, Ghana has seen a huge decline in its marine resources, particularly fish. The devastating consequences of the use of light and dynamite in fishing, threaten the very existence of the fishing industry.
Light fishing lures fingerlings, disrupting the already delicate marine system. But the use of dynamite for fishing has an even deadlier effect. It not only destroys the fish, but also targets other marine life.
The effect, Depleted fish stock, loss of biodiversity, and environmental contamination.
fishing communities which are depend on the sea for livelihoods, suffer greatly.
here at Ngyiresia landing beach, fishermen are changing the narrative.
Upon seeing the negative effects of illegal fishing practices, fishermen have decided to put a stop to the menace.
(when you eat fish that was caught with dynamite, you can get sick as a result. It’s because although some people can identify that dynamite was used to catch the fish, not everyone can. And so, it can give you diseases when you unknowingly buy it and eat.)
Nana Ackon is chief fisherman here at Ngyiresia landing beach. He oversees all fishing activities and ensures fishermen are adhering to safe fishing practices.
(Light fishing is the reason the entire country is in a crisis. It is indeed a fact that when you don’t suffer to catch fish, it will decline quickly. The whites have always protected the food they eat, but for us we are rather destroying it. We’re destroying our water bodies although we are increasing in population. We build without structure, and now we are destroying our own marine life. And so, Ghana has a big problem.)
The decline of indigenous knowledge has severely impacted the fishing industry.
The fisheries commission in Sekondi says it is doing everything in its power to maintain adherence to safe fishing practices.
We are actually working tirelessly in Sekondi, were working tirelessly. You know when something has been a norm or has happened for quite a long time, stopping it at a time is a bit difficult, it will take time. But then the fisheries commission and our mother ministry are relentless in fighting to bring light fishing under control.)
Assistant fisheries manager in Sekondi, Michael Abban however says, managing the large number of fishermen on the landing beaches is a difficult task.
fishing with light and other things that cause the fishes to come to the surface for you to actually catch is illegal; its against the law, fisheries Act. Its against our Act our regulations, its stated there. So, what happens is that the FEU that the Fisheries Enforcement Unit, they are mandated to help, control and regulate this. So, by law they make the arrest and process you for court so all perpetrators of these acts are actually arrested and processed for court. What the Fisheries commission does is that we educate, we sensitize and from time to time, with our daily activities whenever we come to the landing beaches to take our report, to take our daily reports, we also educated them and encourage them to desist from acts concerned with light fishing.)
Sustainable Development Goal, 14.2, requires the management and protection marine and coastal ecosystems, to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
In addition, SDG 14.4, requires effective regulation of harvesting and an end to overfishing.
with barely 6 years left to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Ghana certainly needs to do more to achieve this target.
By Judith Brown, Tv3 News., a STAR Ghana Foundation-sponsored documentary
