Fishermen pulling back their net after making a catch
Fisherfolks at Woe Light House beach in the Anloga District of the Volta Region have experienced a bumper harvest of grey mullet, a type of fish that is highly valued in the district for its nutritional and economic importance.
The abundant catch has brought relief and joy to the fishing community, with many fisherfolks hoping to sustain the harvest until Christmas while describing grey mullet as a significant contributor to the marine and inland catches with its economic importance cannot be overstated.
Raymond Gbedze, a fisherman at Woe, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency attributed the bumper harvest to favourable weather conditions, including the rainy season, which has brought an abundance of fish to the coastal waters.
“These are the kind of experiences we have most at times when the weather changes, and we are optimistic that the harvest will continue to provide us with a steady income to improve livelihoods,” he said.
He said despite the abundance of fish, fisherfolks were facing challenges in selling their catches and many were selling on credit, while others were also struggling to find ready markets which has resulted in low income for the fisherfolks, and the situation had affected the economic well-being.
Gbedze said as the yuletide season approached, other fisherfolks were hoping to capitalise on the increased demand for fish and called on consumers to support the local fishing industry by buying from them to promote food security and sustaining the fishing practices and business in the area.
“We are calling on the District Assembly to provide support such improved infrastructure and equipment to boost the fishing industry which is expected to address the challenges faced by the fisherfolks and ensure the smooth running of the fishing business.”
He said the grey mullet was a highly priced fish species with a strong market demand in Keta and Anloga, and beyond its economic importance extended to the local communities, where it provided employment and income opportunities for businesses.
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Simon Doamekpor, another fisherman urged stakeholders and the government to prioritise the fishing industry and provide the necessary support and initiatives such as storage facilities, equipment, and market access to promote the sector’s growth and development.
He said the fishing industry was a significant contributor to the country’s economy to provide employment and income opportunities for many while the bumper harvest of grey mullet was a welcome boost to the sector, and efforts were needed to sustain it.
He said the price of catches ranged between GH¢25 to GH¢200 depending on the weighing container used in selling.
Meanwhile, the fisherfolks at Woe in the Anloga district remained optimistic about their prospects and were hoping to make the most of the abundant catch and improve their livelihoods as Christmas approaches.
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