SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL FISHERIES ASSOCIATION OF GHANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR ARTISANAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE (IYAFA 2022) AND COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES 1ST MARCH, 2022 LA BEACH HOTEL

Mr. Chairman, representatives of the following:

(i) Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development;
(ii) Fisheries Commission;
(iii) Government Agencies;
(iv) Small Scale Fisheries Value Chain;
(v) Donor and development partners;
(vi) Media;
(vii) Academia and Research Institutions; and
(viii) Non-Governmental Organizations

On behalf of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG), I wish to express profound appreciation to the organizers for inviting us to this important launch.

As we are aware, the United Nations has declared the year 2022 as the International Year for Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022) in recognition of the important roles that small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in ensuring, food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable use of natural resources.

That small-scale fishers produce 70% of the total fish production of Ghana is a pointer to the important role of small-scale fishers in ensuring food security and nutrition for Ghanaians and indeed, several people in the world.

Small-scale fishing is the main source of livelihood for coastal community dwellers and therefore the source of at least, poverty reduction if not poverty eradication and its important role cannot therefore be overemphasized.

The sustainable use of natural resources including the ocean, depends on the extent to which small-scale fishers and other users of the natural resource, engage in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities which currently constitute a big global challenge to all.

As the umbrella fisheries association in the country, one of the objectives of NAFAG is to advocate for the development of the fishing industry, be it capture or culture fish to ensure sustainable fisheries in all aspects of fish production.

It is as a result of the foregoing that NAFAG expresses it’s support and pledges it’s active cooperation with fish farmers in their efforts to increase their production to supplement the dwindling fish stocks in the marine sector. We note with admiration the ever-increasing production figures in the Aquaculture sector over the years.

NAFAG also pledges it’s support to fish workers in their various endeavours to reverse the current decline in fish stocks to ensure food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable use of natural resources. Together we stand or together we fall.

It is the considered position of NAFAG that for the above objectives to be attained, there is the urgent need for effective education and sensitization of small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers to appreciate the negative impact of IUU fishing on their own individual livelihood in particular and the fishing industry in general.

An appreciation of their illegal methods of operation would most likely lead to their voluntary compliance of anti-IUU activities with its attendant positive impact on the industry.

NAFAG therefore appreciates the outdooring of communication and knowledge materials produced on the voluntary Guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries for actors along the SSF value chain.
We therefore wish to assure those responsible for the dissemination of information in document of the willingness, readiness and collaboration of NAFAG in that direction.

Once again, I thank the organizers for their invitation to us to participate in this launch.

Simon Agah
Ag. President – NAFAG