Oil companies, fishermen unite to ensure safe fishing
Fishermen and international oil companies (IOC) in the Western Region have pledged to collaborate to ensure safe fishing and the sustainability of the country’s marine resources.
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According to Nana Kojo Condua, the President of the Western Regional branch of the Ghana National Fishermen Council (GNFC), the relationship between the oil companies operating offshore and the fishermen had improved greatly.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at this year’s annual regatta for the six coastal communities in the Western Region, he said the initial apprehension was due to the lack of understanding and trust between the two sides.
Six coastal districts
This year’s regatta, which was on the theme: “Safe Fishing Saves Lives”, was attended by various contesting groups from the Jomoro, Ellembelle Ahanta West, Shama districts,the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and the Nzema East Municipal Assembly.
He said after many years, the two sides had learnt to co-exist to ensure that the best interest of Ghana was protected to the benefit of all.
The regatta, he said, was normally used as a platform to educate fishermen on the importance of safe practices in the industry.
Education
“We also use the occasion to educate our colleagues on other illegal methods of fishing and I must say we will improve on the current regatta from a day’s activity to a week-long one to ensure that we do more education and climax it with the entertainment which include a boat race, tug-of-war among others,” he said.
He commended the Jubilee Partners, sponsors of the programme for their continued support and the addition of health screening of the participants and communities.
Jubilee Partners
Mr Kwasi Amponsah, the Head of Public Affairs of the Jubilee Partners, said the company deemed the annual regatta as an opportunity to bring its operations to the doorstep of the hosts to enable them to appreciate and understand its operations.
“The information we share is, among others, to help the fishermen understand why certain radius within its operational areas offshore were restricted, as well as the risk associated with it,” he said.
“We know and accept the fact that as fishermen and fishmongers, your livelihood is tied to the sustainability of our marine resources and therefore, engaging you on a regular basis should be a matter of course to achieve mutual understanding,” he said.
Engagements
He said it was important to note that the engagements were not limited to regatta and that they held quarterly engagements with chief fishermen and fishmongers from all the six coastal areas.
Such interactions and feedback from the partners in the fishing industry, he said, would help the Jubilee Partners to roll out various programmes aimed at supporting the fishing industry in general under the Livelihood Enhancement and Enterprise Development Project.
“Under that project, we have trained more than 2,000 men and women in the fisheries industry and the youth in strategic business management, enterprise development, mentorship and coaching among others,” he said.
Members of the fishing community were also given medical care as part of the celebration.
