Ghana, Italy agree to create fishery clusters

Ghana and Italy have agreed to promote and create fishery clusters in the country.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to that effect in Accra between the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Mazara del Vallo-Cosvop of Italy.

Sector Minister Sherry Ayittey initialed for Ghana while Giovanni Tumbioli, President of the Fish District of Italy signed for his country.

Madam Ayittey revealed that a fish health policy to monitor the quality of fish sold to consumers will be launched at the end of this month.

The fish cluster was born out of a meeting in Rome, Italy last December by the ministry of fisheries and aquaculture development with the fish development district of Italy.

Italy agreed to partner Ghana to research and train in marine research in order to boost the sector to create jobs.

At the signing of the MOU in Accra, sector minister, Sherry Ayittey said countries such as Norway though rich in oil resources, has a fisheries sector as the main stay of their economy.

Ghana can do same when the appropriate resources and investments are channelled into the sector.

President of the fish district of Italy said Ghana must take scientific research on oceans seriously. This will pave the way for further education on how to improve fields and control the fisheries sector in this age of climate change.

A steering committee to oversee the activities of the collaboration was inaugurated with Madam Sherry Ayittey as the chairperson.

Dubbed the blue economy, the fish clusters when started, will increase its one billion dollars in revenue annually to about 3.5 billion.