By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, May 3, GNA - Mrs Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, has advised fishermen in the various communities to boldly point out people who are on the landing beach committees but are not fishermen.
She said the committees were for the fishermen and it was very necessary that their membership largely involves fishermen to champion the cause.
The Minister made the call when members of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) called on her to present a petition regarding landing beach committees.
The landing beach committees, being constituted in the various fishing communities by government, seek to ensure the smooth operations of the fisher folks.
However, some of the committees in the 32 inland districts within the coastal belt are faced with some challenges as some of the committee members are not fishermen and, as such could not champion the cause of fishermen.
Mrs Quaye expressed gratitude to the fisher folks for their commitment saying the major problem with the fishing industry in Ghana was light fishing and expressed happiness that the fishermen were ready to partner government to fight it.
She said those who were illegally using light for fishing were enjoying at the expense of the other fishermen and causing huge damage to the sea and expressed government’s readiness to fight the menace.
She urged the fishermen to stop using monofilament net and other harmful chemicals and equipment for fishing as such practices depleted the sea at a faster rate.
“Anybody caught causing infractions to the law will be dealt with,” she said.
Nii Asaase Ayitey, the Kokrobite Wolei Atse, on behalf of the Council, said the situation posed a challenge which needed the urgent attention of the Minister.
He said the Legislative Instrument (LI 2233) of the National Premix Fuel Committee clearly stipulates the mode of committees’ formation which should include the chief fisherman, a representative each of canoe owners, the Ministry, fishmongers, the Municipal Chief Executive and a secretary.
Nii Asaase said it had come to the Council’s notice of the illegalities perpetrated due to the change in government, and by extension the committee members, resulting in the takeover of sales outlets, management of premix fuel at the landing beaches, and massive diversion of the product to other areas and called on the Minister to investigate.
He called for the new National Premix Secretariat to account for its stewardship.
Mr John Dickson Eshun, the Western Regional Public Relations Officer of the Council, appealed to government to channel its activities through the Council to ensure its success and asked that chief fishermen be empowered to enable them to fight against light fishing.
He called for the reduction of the number of foreign fishing vessels on the sea together with their activities by not renewing their licenses as it was affecting the local fisher folk.
GNA
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