Accra: Eating one pregnant fish is equivalent to consuming 50,000 fish, according to Mr. Kofi Agbogah, Director of Hen Mpoano, a non-governmental organization focused on coastal and marine ecosystems. This stark reminder was issued to Ghanaians to emphasize the critical impact of consuming pregnant fish on the future of the nation’s fish population.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Agbogah explained that a single fish can lay up to 50,000 eggs, and consuming a pregnant fish essentially means consuming these potential future fish. He highlighted this issue at a media forum focused on sustaining Ghana’s closed fishing season, an initiative supported by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). The closed season was introduced after extensive consultations and scientific evaluations to prevent the consumption of pregnant fish and to preserve them for future generations.

During the period when fish lay their eggs, they become weak and fragile, making them easy targets for fishermen. Mr. Agbogah noted that this period is often referred to as the “bumper season” by fishers, who capitalize on the vulnerability of the fish to harvest them in large numbers, thus depleting future fish stocks.

He urged fishers to support the closed season as a conservation measure designed to replenish the dwindling marine fish stock, warning that a failure to adopt such measures could lead to the collapse of Ghana’s fisheries. Drawing an analogy with farming, Mr. Agbogah advised that fishermen, like farmers, should allow time for fish populations to regenerate during the closed season.

Mr. Agbogah also called on authorities, including the President, to prioritize marine conservation as part of Ghana’s environmental policy. He pointed out the need for a cultural shift among fishermen towards saving and sustainable practices, contrasting their daily catches with the longer waiting periods that farmers endure.

Addressing concerns about poverty among fishers resisting the closed season, Mr. Agbogah suggested innovative solutions. He proposed reallocating government subsidies, such as the USD 50 million spent on the premix sector, to support fishers during the closed season, ensuring funds reach those truly in need.

Criticizing the current system of distributing provisions like rice and oil, which often leads to inefficiencies and chaos, Mr. Agbogah urged the government to heed expert advice before the situation worsens. His comments highlight the urgent need for strategic interventions to safeguard Ghana’s marine resources for future generations.