ENFORCE BAN ON USE OF UNDERSIZE NETS (PAGE 42, SEPT 1, 2010)

THE Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) has appealed to the government to ensure that the ban on the use of undersize nets by canoe fishermen is enforced to create a level playing field for all local fishermen.
The Tema District President of GIFA, Mr Joe Klamoh, who made the appeal at Tema, said Subsection 4 of the new Fisheries Regulation, Section 12, was explicit on the prohibition and must not be swept under the carpet.
The regulation states that a person shall not use a small pelagic purse seine net which has a mesh size of less than 25 millimetres mandated by artisan fishermen.
According to him, “Artisan fishermen with a population of 13,000 canoes in our waters of a number about 8,000 that are actively applying a ratter lower size nets of a quarter of an inch to undertake fishing, resulting in the depletion of the sea stock of juvenile fish such as anchovies (Keta school boys)”.
Mr Klamoh further stated that the practice of light fishing was still persistent at the shore although there were regulations prohibiting the practice.
“It is regrettable to note that the use of portable generator switch bulbs beyond 500 watts was still visible among the fisher folk,” he stated.
Mr Klamor has as a matter of urgency, called on the Fisheries Commission and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that fishermen adhered to laid down rules governing the fishing trade.
He also called on stakeholder agencies in the fishing trade to develop the use of technology, which he said, were realities in the fishing industry elsewhere.
Quoting from a research vessel to guide, RV KAKADIAMA, which was scraped some 15 years ago, fishermen had difficulty obtaining information on the movements of fishes.
The trend, Mr Klamor said, left local fisherman going on open sea without any scientific direction and sometimes roam the surface without a single catch.
He noted with regret the current deplorable conditions of the country’s only fisheries research institute located at Community 2 which collapsed a decade ago.
The Chief Fisherman, Nii Adjieteh Mator II, for his part, said his outfit was working towards a roundtable discussion with their inshore counterparts for peace to prevail since they were all aiming at one common goal, to feed Ghana with its fish needs.
All attempts to get government’s take on the issues were unsuccessful as Deputy Minister in charge of Fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale,could not be reached on his mobile phone.