Scores of agitated fishermen in Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality have vowed not to quit light fishing until government stops Chinese vessels from the crude methods of fishing on Ghana’s territorial waters with impunity.
Their views are contrary to the determination of government and the Elmina Traditional Council (ETC) to end the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices depleting marine resources.
In May 2017, the ETC invoked the 77 gods of the area to punish recalcitrant fishermen who continued to use dangerous chemicals to fish in the area.
While pouring libation to invoke curses on the recalcitrant fishermen, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, the Paramount Chief of the Edina Traditional Area, asked the gods of Eyeaba to deal with fishermen who used DDT, light, dynamite, a mixture of Omo and gari, formalin and chemicals on their fishing expeditions.
He warned that, the traditional council would not tolerate illegal fishing practices in the area, since they affected survival, health and livelihoods in many communities.
But, speaking in an interview with media in Elmina, it was evidently clear that the clear that the fishermen have sidestepped the order with renewed commitment to light fishing, claiming that is the only way to get fish.Mr Nicholas Egyir-Aggrey, a 42-year-old Fisherman showed some banned fishing substances including generator sets, bulbs, chemicals, and other banned fishing nets, and boastfully dared the security agencies to arrest them as the gods look on helplessly.
He vehemently denied the notion that their activities were depleting the marine resources but blamed the situation on the numerous Chinese fishing vessels destroying the sea with their fishing logistics and seasonless expeditions.
Mr Emmanuel Ebo Mensah, a 47-year-old fisherman was emphatic that light fishing started decades ago when the Chinese were given full backing by government fish -destroying the sea with all kinds of materials, which they had over the years complained of.
“If government had listened to us keenly, things would have been under control by now. Government should strictly enforce regulations in the fisheries sector with prime focus on the foreign vessels,” they said.
“If all Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices such as the indiscriminate use of explosives, chemicals, under-sized mesh nets, light, bamboo and other fish aggregating devices to fish are to be stopped, the Chinese vessels must be tamed first.
Mr Kofi Brandon, a 52-year-old fisherman blamed the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture for increasing IUU and other fish aggregating devices and warned of eminent collapse to fish the fisheries sector.
The Ministry should endeavour improve information sharing with stock rebuilding strategy to effectively enforce fisheries legislation.
That is the way to protect marine habitant to conserve biodiversity; reduce post-harvest losses and reduce the current levels of fishing efforts and fishing capacity.
On the closed season, Mr Francis Abban described it as easy of time and called on the government to council it with immediate effect.
“We have not made enough catch as promised of bumper harvest after the closed season,” as he pointed to about 20 fingerlings as their catch after days of fishing expedition.
“All stakeholders must sit down and rethink the closed season process. Since the ban was lifted fishermen go and come back empty or with little catch. We have realised that the closed season cannot help us and decided we must sit down properly on the matter,” he noted.
“All stakeholders must sit down and rethink the closed season process. Since the ban was lifted fishermen go and come back empty or with little catch. We have realised that the closed season cannot help us and decided we must sit down properly on the matter,” he noted.
The fishermen generally, among others also identified the high cost of premix fuel as a major problem affecting the local fishing industry and called for immediate intervention.
They noted that recent fuel increment had seriously affected their business as the price of premix fuel had shot up leading to rationing, due to shortages which forced other fishermen from other communities to compete with the locals for the fuel.
Others complained about some unscrupulous business men and women who buy the premix fuel in large quantities at the expense of the fishermen and re-sell it later at a higher price and urged the government to effectively tackle the growing menace.
Story:Isaac Asirifi
