Ghana has no pole-line tuna vessel operating, fisheries association warns

Pinned summary · as of 17:07

Ghana's pole-line tuna fishing fleet has stopped working altogether, according to the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG). Its vice chairman, Richster Amarh Amarfio, said operators have been squeezed by heavy running costs and asked the government to step in to protect the tuna industry.

What we know

• NAFAG's vice chairman, Richster Amarh Amarfio, said that Ghana currently has no pole-line vessel at work, describing the sub-sector as having collapsed under cost pressure.
• Mr Amarfio said tuna operators get no fuel support and pay full market prices, and that one vessel can burn about 270,000 litres of fuel.
• He said levies fall on the industry's catch, spares and equipment even though fisheries sit within agriculture. Harbour fees, dry-docking and the cost of maritime security cover on the high seas add to the bill.
• Mr Amarfio put the tuna sector's yearly foreign-exchange earnings at more than US$200 million. He called for targeted state support, a dedicated authority to develop fisheries, and more investment in tuna research and in by-products like fish oil and fish meal.
• He said firms still depend on older Korean crew because too few Ghanaians have been trained and certified as captains and engineers, and urged more spending on that training.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Chale News reported Mr Amarfio's fuel figure as applying to each trip, while The Herald Ghana gave the 270,000-litre figure without that qualifier.
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  The Herald Ghana reported Mr Amarfio as saying the Regional Maritime University does not have the facilities or a training vessel to prepare people for the fishing industry; no other report carried this and the university has not responded in the material reported.

Why it matters for Ghana

Tuna earns Ghana foreign exchange, according to the association, and a fleet that has stopped working puts the jobs of crew and shore staff at the ports at risk. The complaints about fuel prices, taxes and port fees point to costs that other operators in the fishing industry also face. The call for locally trained captains and engineers bears on job prospects for young Ghanaians seeking careers at sea.