Banned aggregated lights used in fishing at Axim

Axim (W/R), May 02, GNA - Fishermen operating at Axim in the Nzema East District have resorted to the use of aggregated lights for fishing, a fish particularly herrings but according to the people the fish loose their taste when kept for a few hours.

Those who engaged in the illegal fishing methods operate between 1700 hours and 1800 hours.

They carry generators, 20 feet long electrical cables and a 1,500 watts specially designed bulbs for their expedition. A source said two types of boats - one with a capacity for 16 people and another with capacity for only two people at a time - were often used to facilitate the act. The fishermen, on arrival at the high seas, allow only two persons to get on board the smaller boat that contains the generator and the lights.

One of them anchors the boat while the other operates the generator and the lights to attract the fish. The lights are lowered into the sea and switched off from time to time and other members in the bigger boat do the harvesting while the lights were being pulled from the sea at the same time. The lights attract fish to the surface of the water making it easy for their harvesting.