Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has lamented the rate of marine and coastal ecosystems degradation from human activities.
According to her, the use of illegal fishing methods, over-exploitation of fisheries resources, ocean pollution and the impact of climate change shows efforts towards sustaining the ocean and coastal ecosystems to enhance their contribution have been insufficient.
The importance of oceans and related resources for sustainable development, she said, is very important hence a growing appreciation that the world’s Oceans and related resources require more in-depth attention and coordinated action for sustainable development, especially in Coastal and Island Developing States.
Delivering the keynote address at the official launch of the 7th Meeting of Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Accra, the Chief of Staff stated that the fisheries and aquaculture sector plays a significant role in job creation and poverty reduction, food and nutrition security, as well as, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution in many OACP Member States including Ghana.
“Oceans, seas and riverine provides a substantial portion of the global population with food and livelihoods, and are the means of transport for about 80% of global trade. The marine and coastal environment also constitutes a key resource for the important global tourism industry.
“Fish constitutes one of the most-traded food commodities in these countries through export of fishery and aquaculture products. In Ghana, for instance, it is acknowledged that the sector accounts for an estimated 1% of GDP, provides 60% of animal protein intake, earned over US$190 million from the export of fish and fishery products in 2019 and supports livelihood for an estimated 3 million people along the fisheries value chain”, she added.
According to her, the theme for the meeting, “OACPS Blue Economy Agenda 2030 – Catalysing the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the Future” is significant and has far-reaching implications on ocean ecosystem preservation, job creation, poverty alleviation and improved livelihoods, economic stability and growth.
The theme, she said, is also relevant to the government’s policy to transform and accelerate the fisheries and aquaculture sector to enable it to contribute more effectively to national development.
She averred that the Blue Economy Agenda has received global recognition and constitutes a key element in the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 14 (protection of life below water), and recognizes the importance of coordinated actions to sustainably manage, protect and preserve the ocean for the present and future generations.
Mrs Osei-Opare noted that sustaining the benefits requires the sustainable exploitation and preservation of the ocean and riverine resources.
The Government, she said, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is working assiduously to address the challenges confronting the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Ghana particularly Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and depleting marine fish stocks.
She expressed hope the 7th Meeting of Ministers would provide the platform for participants to discuss important issues relating to the Blue Economy Agenda, as well as, the fisheries and aquaculture in general and how it could facilitate the sustainable management of the resources of Member States to the benefit of the coastal and inland communities in specific and the States in general.
