Thousands of young fish are reportedly being caught and left to die at the Bosomtwi Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi, raising concerns over the future of Ghana’s fish stocks.
Samuel Tetteh, a former Best Fisherman in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, says the situation has become alarming, with some fishermen allegedly targeting baby salmon despite them being too small for the market.
Speaking in an interview with Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show, Tetteh indicated that fishermen often bring large quantities of the young fish ashore but struggle to find buyers, forcing them to eventually dump their catch back into the sea.
He says the practice has contributed to a foul stench around the harbour, with dead young fish reportedly floating on the water.
“The sad part is that most of the fish being caught at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour are fingerlings. These young fish should be allowed to grow before they are caught, but that is not happening. They bring them ashore, nobody buys them, and they eventually end up dead and are thrown back into the sea,” he stated.
“The Ministry of Fisheries, the Fisheries Commission and other relevant authorities must sit up and act before our fish stocks are completely destroyed,” he added.
He further raised concerns about fishermen going to sea on Tuesdays, a practice traditionally regarded as taboo and unlawful in Ghana.
“Some fishermen at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour have been going to sea on Tuesdays, even though fishing is not supposed to take place on that day.
“Yesterday, Tuesday, there was an abundance of fish at the harbour, but fishermen were forced to throw large quantities back into the sea because there were no buyers. The whole place is now smelling badly,” he indicated.
The 2025 Best Fisherman is therefore calling on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Fisheries Commission and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene to address these malpractices in the industry before the situation gets out of hand.
