Even though fish contributes to about sixty animal proteins in Ghanaians, findings reveal that some methods used in preparing the fish fall below the approved global standard.
The unapproved fishing methods, in one way or the other, endanger the consumers’ life. To avert this, CEWEFIA and its implementing partners, with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, have held a two-fish fair in Cape Coast on fish processing in hygienic and standardized ways at the Adisadel College Park, Cape Coast.
The event saw the implementing partners of sustainable Ocean projects like the Environmental Justice Foundation, Hen Mpoano and the CEWEFIA taking to the street with placards that read, “Illegal Fishing Hurt Us All: Say No!”, “Report Illegal Fishing: Protect Livelihood”, “Protect Our Oceans: Say No to IUU Fishing” and the like from Abura market, a suburb of the Cape Coast metropolis through the street up to the Adisadel college park where a durbar was held.
The Project Manager of CEWEFIA, Nicholas Smith, on behalf of the Executive Director, Mrs Victoria Churchill, disclosed that the CEWEFIA has for past years instituted sustainable projects such as SFMP, GFRA, WIFVEs and the likes to promote sustainable fisheries management and empowering communities in Ghana’s Coastal regions. He on behalf of the Executive Director of the organization, Mrs Victoria Churchill, urged stewards of marine resources to team up to protect and conserve the marine ecosystem for future generations.
Touching on the theme for the Fish Fair, “Fisheries For A Value Additional, Safe Fish Certification And Sustainable Practice For A Healthier Ocean,” Mr. Smith noted that though fish remains a major source of animal protein for the citizenry, the way and manner that some fishmongers process their fish go against the world standard of processing hygienic fish and endanger the health of the consumers.
This, and other reasons, he stressed led the CEWEFIA and other sustainable oceans implementing partners with support from the Norwegian government to organize the Fish exhibition so that the citizenry would not just buy hygienic fishes but also gain knowledge about the universal standard of processing fish.
Mr Smith stressed the need for certification and licensing schemes for fish processing to meet safety, hygienic and environmental standards required by both local and international markets. He therefore pleaded with all stakeholders to embrace innovative and sustainable practices that will enable future generations to enjoy the fishing occupation.
The Central Regional Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Francisca Obeng, noted that the FDA’s mandate is to ensure the citizenry consumes safe or hygienic fish. Hence officers from the region have been on the lookout for processed fish, be it canned, powdered or smoked that do not meet their specifications.
The Ghana Standard Authority’s Central Regional officer, Emmanuel Kwami Agba, disclosed that some abodes where fishes are processed are unhygienic. Hence, all stakeholders in coastal communities in the country have teamed up to apprehend those whose activities fall short of the laid-down hygienic requirements.
The event offered an opportunity for some beneficiaries of the Sustainable Oceans project implementing partners and the anti-IUU to indicate benefits received from the training offered them. One of the Anti-IUU in the Central Region, Nana Ababio, disclosed that the absence of devices to detect unwholesome fish that fishmongers buy from fishermen has been and continues to be a bane in fighting against illegal fishing in the country. He therefore pleaded with the government to support the Ministry of Fisheries and Acqua Culture Development with such detecting devices.
Nana Ababio used the event to also plead with the government to intensify its fights against illegal marine Fishing activities like light fishing, and dynamiting. The use of unapproved nets for fishing and instances where selfish individuals apply poisonous chemicals to water bodies for fish as suicidal.
The event ended with the judges and the gatherings exhibiting powdered, smoked and canned fish at the fairgrounds.
