18/7/09 Graphic Middle page

Story: Gifty Bamfo, Jennifer Dornoo & MacLiberty Misrowoda
FISHERMEN at the Nungua and Teshie landing beaches are pessimistic about their fortunes in the current season.
While the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture share the view that there is the likelihood of a bumper fish harvest this season, fishermen in Nungua and Teshie insist that they are doubtful of reaping the maximum benefit.
According to the Director of Fisheries, Mr Alfred Tetebo, a bumper harvest was possible due to the rains and change in the sea temperatures, which were good indications of better catch later in the season.
On the contrary, however, they attributed their uncertainty to the current prevailing conditions, such as the non-availability of pre-mix on the market and the high cost of other fishing inputs.
They explained that they were unable to go deep into sea where they were sure of making enough catch because of the high cost of improvised fuel they were using in the absence of the pre-mix.
According to the fishermen, while they bought a gallon of premix at GH¢2.60, “we are forced to mix super with engine oil which add up to about GH¢6 for the same quantity of the premix.”
This and other factors, they claimed, had increased their cost of production, hence the high cost of fish on the market in recent times.
They also said the increasing cost of the outboard motor which went for GH¢1,800 last year was now being sold for GH¢5,200, a situation they contended did not favour the business.
Another problem they said must be rectified was the high cost of fishing nets.
According to them, about a few months ago, the small size of the nets was sold at GH¢40, but was now sold for GH¢100, while the big size was sold for GH¢370 as against GH¢250 last year.
They, therefore, called on the relevant stakeholders to put in place measures, including the provision of credit facilities, that would help their business.
But speaking in a separate interview, Mr Tetebo expressed optimism about a bumper harvest and added that the fisher folks were disposed to generating more revenue as there was the possibility of selling and preserving more fish for consumption.
He stated that government was encouraging the private sector to venture into more cold storage business as it was the surest way of preserving abundant fish for future use.
He indicated that the government had waived taxes on cold storage equipment to enable more people venture into business.
“This move will preserve more of the excess fish to ensure they do not go bad,” he added.
He added that the ministry was encouraging fishing in cages as another method of fish farming instead of farming in only ponds.