By Hebrews Pouyeli Kumako
Concerned Net Owners at the Denu Viepe Landing Beach along the Keta Basin have clarified their position on light fishing practices and issued a strong public disclaimer ahead of the 2026 fishing season.
According to the group, their light fishing activities are strictly seasonal, carried out between December and February each year, in response to the nature of the sea during that period.
They emphasized that they have officially ended all light fishing activities as of February 2026, in line with their internal regulations and responsible fishing practices.
The group is therefore advocating for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to formally approve a regulated three-month window for light fishing, within which actual operations will not exceed six weeks.
The Concerned Net Owners have issued a clear warning that:
Any fisherman found engaging in light fishing along the Keta Basin coastline between April and October 2026 is not operating under their authority or association.
They stressed that such activities should be considered unauthorized and potentially illegal, because they only requesting for December to February each year for such fishing methods within SIX WEEKS, distancing themselves from any misuse of the method outside the approved seasonal period.
The group is calling on authorities to recognize and regulate their structured approach, which allows controlled light fishing for a limited duration while promoting sustainability.
They argue that their model balances traditional fishing practices with conservation efforts, ensuring that marine life is not overexploited.
At the same time, the group has intensified its campaign against the year-round use of poly nets (monofilament nets), describing it as a major threat to marine resources.
They warned that continued use of such nets:
- Destroys fish eggs and breeding grounds
- Captures juvenile fish before maturity
- Leads to rapid depletion of fish stocks
- Gradually undermines the entire fishing industry
“This is a slow, day-by-day destruction of the sea. If not controlled, future generations will suffer the consequences,” the group cautioned.
The Concerned Net Owners are urging key regulatory bodies, including the Fisheries Commission of Ghana, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Fisheries Enforcement Unit, and Small Pelagic Co-management Committee together with Municipal Assembly to :
- Regulate and monitor light fishing practices
- Enforce strict controls on poly net usage
- Protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems along the Keta Basin coastline
Fishers at the Denu Viepe Landing Beaches said their seasonal light fishing activities, is a necessity driven by economic hardship and unfair fishing practices.
According to the group, the widespread use of undersized poly nets by some fishermen has made it difficult to catch larger, mature fish, leading to significant financial losses for those using approved nets. They accused some operators of using mosquito-like nets throughout the year, indiscriminately harvesting juvenile fish and destroying breeding stocks.
The fishers explained that their light fishing activities, conducted strictly between December and February, are regulated and limited, unlike in other regions where the practice occurs all year round.
“This is the only period we can recover, pay our debts, and take care of our families,” they noted.
Speaking to News Volta and GhanaNewsOnline, Francis Bedzo and George Akpe both reiterated the need for urgent intervention and collaboration between authorities and fisherfolk to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
News Volta and GhanaNewsOnline will continue to monitor developments along the Keta Basin coastline as stakeholders push for stronger regulation, environmental protection, and sustainable fishing practices in the Volta Region.
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Source News Volta
