Sekondi, Sept. 2, GNA - Two fishing vessels have been arrested by the Ghana Navy for engaging in pair-trawling in Ghana's territorial waters near Apam in the Central Region without licence. The ships involved are Maache One and Maache Two, who were arrested on August 30, this year.

Briefing the media at Sekondi on Monday, Commodore Frank Daley, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command said navy personnel on patrol duties spotted six ships involved in pair-trawling. He said four of the ships managed to escape but the navy arrested two, who were all operating within 30 metres deep, instead of the approved above 40 metres deep.

Commodore Daley said the Captain of Maache One, Yue Xi Quen, six Chinese and 12 Ghanaians have been arrested with 500 cartons of fish, while Maache two under the Captainship of Zhan Houlian, seven Chinese and 11 Ghanaians were arrested with 700 cartons of fish. Commodore Daley said the Navy has handed over the suspects to the Fisheries department for further investigations and action. Mr Alex K. Addo, Western Regional Director of Fisheries confirmed receiving a report to the effect but added that, a committee made up of the Fisheries Department, Ghana Navy, Police and the Attorney General's Department would meet to decide on the case and the appropriate sanctions would be meted out to them.

The ship is owned by Nebulla International based at Tema, a Ghanaian company.