The council, at a press conference held in Accra, condemned fishermen who are engage in unacceptable fishing practices like pair trawling, light fishing and use under size mesh nets, monofilament or rubber nets in marine fishing, dynamite and harmful chemicals.
The council stated that bad fishing practices adopted by both industrial and some artisanal fishermen had affected the fishing industry negatively, disclosing that the industry is in danger, hence their pledge to support the enforcement of the fisheries law.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah IV, Executive Secretary of the council, stated that before the fisheries law was finally passed players in industry suffered due to unacceptable fishing practices adopted by some fishermen.
The council, he said, was therefore happy when the law to govern the fishing industry was passed but was dissatisfied with the position taken by few fishermen, adding, “These are people who stand to lose nothing if our marine resources are ravaged or plundered and the sea is rendered barren, they will not suffer because they are already secured in their regular jobs and businesses.”
He said the fishing industry is still viable in African countries such as Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal because of the effective enforcement of the fisheries laws in those countries.
“It is precisely because in these countries their fishing laws and regulations are rigidly enforced and these bad fishing practices we are talking about are totally outlawed,” he said.
Excerpt from:
GNCFC Endorses Fisheries Law