Ghana danger a European Union (EU) ban on fish importation if the nation doesn’t take the required steps to sanitise its fishing house.
Already, the nation has obtained two yellow playing cards from the EU -one in 2013 and one other in 2021- and will the issue persist by 2026, the nation will obtain a crimson card.
This was made identified by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Choose Committee on Meals, Aquaculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, at a stakeholders’ assembly in Accra on Friday.
The assembly was to finalise a draft Fisheries invoice that may assist deliver sanity to the nation’s fishing house.
He mentioned on each events, the nation was singled out for yellow card warning for unlawful, unreported and unregulated fishing.
To this finish, he mentioned the draft invoice, which was now with the committee of parliament, has made passable inputs however nonetheless wanted stakeholders within the trade to assist finalise it in order that Ghana can cross the EU specs and never obtain a crimson card in 2026.
Worth chain
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, in a welcome handle, mentioned three million folks within the nation relied on the fishery worth chain, saying a ban would, due to this fact, have dire penalties.
Additionally, she mentioned the nation was one of many greatest markets for fish importation into the EU market and a crimson card would have an effect on export revenues.
She, due to this fact, mentioned a legislation was wanted to manage and sanitise the nation’s fishing house.
The invoice, she mentioned, has, due to this fact, been laid earlier than parliament below a certificates of emergency.
Mrs Arthur mentioned when finalised, the invoice would additional be introduced to the EU and the Meals and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for contributions earlier than it’s handed.
Stakeholders expressed their considerations, saying fish was an vital useful resource within the nation that wanted to be correctly managed.
They mentioned the nation had worldwide obligations to handle the useful resource nicely.
Some referred to as for the penalisation of captains of vessels that become involved in illegalities within the nation’s waters.
They mentioned such captains shouldn’t simply be repatriated to their house international locations however be made to face the total rigours of the nation’s legal guidelines to function a deterrent to others.
Invoice
The Fisheries and Aquaculture invoice, which elapsed with the final parliament and, due to this fact, is present process consideration within the current parliament, has 167 clauses and 170 sections.
The payments will take care of points, together with inland fishing administration, aquaculture points, offences and penalties.
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