Fishermen in Tema have threatened to do light fishing until the sector ministry clamps down on foreign trawlers doing illegal fishing in the Ghanaian waters.

Their comment came hours after the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye reiterated calls at fishermen to help curb unreported and unregulated methods of fishing.

The counter comment was fueled by the fishers’ disappointment at the abysmal catch on their return from the maiden close season, as against their high expectations of bumper catch, though it is early days yet.

The Chief Fisherman of Tema Awudum, Nii Odametey speaking to atinkaonline complained that the Chinese trawlers licensed for dismissal fishing are rather doing pelagic fishing whilst the Fisheries Commission sit unconcerned.

Yet, he noted that the Commission only talks about the local fishermen use of monofilament net and light fishing, instead of investigating and monitoring activities of these foreign trawlers.

“I cannot tell my people to stop light fishing. How do i respond if they ask about what we as leaders have been able to do to solve the problem of trawlers engaging in pelagic fishing” he stressed.