Fijai (W/R), May 24, GNA – The Ghana Navy, on Tuesday underscored the need for team work among the security agencies to complement the national effort to enforce the fisheries Act and Regulations.
“Let’s have a broader approach especially at ashore to bring sanity into the fisheries folks, concerning the fishing regulation,” Naval Captain Kofi Ankama, Command Inspectorate Officer of the Western Naval Command advocated.
He said while the Navy concentrated control at sea, the other security agencies should also be addressing issues at ashore to ensure that fishermen complied fully with the fisheries regulations.
He was answering questions at a media encounter organised by the Western Regional Office of the Fisheries Commission on the implementation of the Fisheries law and regulations in Sekondi.
Naval Capt Ankamah denied public perception that Naval Personnel discriminated against the arrest of fishermen who flouted the fishing regulations, explaining that the culprits were often arrested and handed over to the police.
He said the Navy had no mandate to arrest those in possession of prohibited fishing gear ashore.
Mr Alex Y. Sarbah, Regional Fisheries Director said the fisheries regulations were vigorously enforced in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in order to save the country’s fish stock from total collapse.
He, therefore, advised fishermen to seek the interest of the nation by adhering to the provision of the fisheries Act and Regulations.
Mr Sarbah said the action was not intended to deprive anyone of their livelihood but rather protect the country’s fisheries resources and in line with international conventions of which Ghana was a signatory.
The Regional Fisheries Director mentioned some of the offences contained in the fisheries Act of 2002, (Act 625) and Fisheries Regulations of 2010 as the use of lighting and explosives for fishing.
Other offences are the carrying on board or possession or control without unlawful authority at any place within a two- kilometre radius from any shore or river, poison and other noxious substances for fishing as well as unapproved nets.
He said the offences attracted prosecution and specified court fines and therefore urged fishermen to respect and work in the confines of the law.
