Fisheries Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, is assuring, she will deal with illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices in Ghana’s territorial waters.

The Minister’s assurances come after the European Commission, the body that oversees the regulation of the fishing practices across the globe, issued a yellow card to Ghana over the country’s failure to deal with illegal fishing practices.

The yellow card is a warning to the country and offers it the opportunity to react and take measures to rectify the situation within a reasonable time.

Ghana was first issued with a yellow card by the EU in 2013, and this was lifted in 2015 as a result of new legislation and a clear fisheries management plan.

However, while these policies are well constructed, they have not been implemented or enforced, allowing the situation to deteriorate and leading the European Commission to re-issue a yellow card warning.

Ghana is the second country ever to have been re-carded in this way and must now urgently work to eradicate illegal fishing by vessels flying its flag and operating in its waters.

But, speaking at an engagement session on the implementation of the 2021 Closed Season with fisherfolk in the Central Region, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, indicated her resolve to wage a relentless war to halt all illegalities in the fisheries sector.

“We are aware of many illegalities on our waters. We have heard and seen a lot. I assure you; we shall deal with it. Already, government has intimated to us to get more resources in this fight. We shall clamp down on them,” she assured.

On the Closed season, the Minister says, the ministry and the fisheries commission are engaging the fisherfolk to make it a success. She says, several engagements are being done to prepare the fishing communities for the exercise.