Apam (CR), Oct 20, GNA - A workshop on post-harvest fisheries has been held at Apam in the Central Region to improve the livelihood of stakeholders in the industry.

The two-day workshop was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries to disseminate information on research by the Ministry in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) for stakeholders in the Gomoa District to enable them to why they are poor and what is stopping them from moving out from poverty.

Miss Doris Yeboah, Assistant Director of the Ministry told the Ghana News Agency that the research, which was conducted in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Asuogyaman, and the Jasikan Districts were related to the main characteristics of poverty and livelihoods of those engaged in the industry.

She said it was identified that the very poor in the industry were generally involved in low paid manual labouring work such as fishing, processing, porters at landing sites and markets, net mending and firewood collection who received low income for their efforts. She said food security the areas, was negatively affected as the fish caught were carried to markets outside leaving little for local consumption.

Mr Francis Ayensu, Gomoa District Planning Officer, commended the Ministry for the research and said that it was unfortunate that no concrete plans had hither to be put in place to improve fishing and the standard of living of the stakeholders.

Mr Ayensu described the involvement of District Assemblies in the programme was laudable and said it would enhance interaction with those engaged in the industry, their households and communities to understand and appreciate their needs and problems.

The Planning Officer said the research would enable the Assemblies to allocate resources to develop programmes to address post-harvest effects on the livelihood of those engaged in the fishing industry.