Ministry should check pair trawling

Three fisheries associations in the Western and Central regions on Friday urged the Minister of State in charge of Fisheries to take immediate measures to check pair trawling and other unorthodox fishing practices in the country?s waters to save the industry from destruction.

The associations said, previous calls to inject sanity into the operations of fishing companies were not heeded, and as a result, laws and regulations guiding fishing in the country?s waters were being flouted with impunity.

At an emergency executive meeting at Sekondi, the associations said, they owe their livelihood to fishing and would not fold their arms to watch the destruction of the industry, especially by foreigners.

Representatives of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association, the Line Hook Canoe Fishermen Association and the Canoe Fishermen Association attended the meeting from the two regions.

It discussed the dangers posed to the lives and property of fishermen and the fishing industry as a whole by pair trawling and devised ways to address them.

They decided to seek audience with the sector minister as soon as possible to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr. Charles Hayford-Acquah and Mr. Killian Kantoh, secretary and assistant secretary of the Western Region Inshore Fisheries Association recalled an assurance given by the sector minister to withdraw licences for pair trawling.

"More than one year after the assurance, nothing has been done about the problem, and instead, new pair trawling vessels continue to arrive in the country."

Mr. Hayford-Acquah said new trawling vessels arrived at the Sekondi fishing harbour early this month from China awaiting licence to begin operation.

The fishermen asked how the trawlers got into the country, when they had been firmly assured that no permits would be issued for new trawlers.

Mr. Andrew Tetteh, executive member of the Central Regional branch of the association said, pair trawling causes immense destruction to the fish population and the country would have to import all its fish requirements within the next few years if the practice is allowed to continue.