Canoe fishermen suspends demonstration

Tema, Jan. 25, GNA - The intended demonstration by members of the Tema Canoe Fishermen Association over the use of light for fishing by the Inshore Fisheries Association has been called off.

This follows an assurance given by the security agencies to step up their patrols to arrest the culprits popularly called "lagee lagee" at an emergency meeting in Tema on Monday.

Personnel from the Navy, the Police and executive members of the Canoe fishermen attended the meeting organised by the Tema Municipal Assembly. The meeting deliberated on the negative impact the intended demonstration would have on the nation and asked the canoe fishermen to rescind their decision to allow the security agencies do track down the offenders.

Nii Adjietey Mator III, Chief of Canoe Fishermen in Tema, told the meeting that he did not understand why fishermen in the Central and Western regions have complied with the ban, while the inshore fishermen in the Municipality have refused to do so.

He alleged that the inshore fishermen also use unapproved fishing methods like the use of dynamite and chemicals like "DDT".

The use of the light in fishing depletes the fish resources since it attract all type of fishes including fingerlings.

The acting Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh and the Commanding Officer of the Eastern Naval Command, Commander Osei Asante debunked claims that government was not doing anything to check the practice. Commander Asante entreated the canoe fishermen to alert the Navy about the any violation of the ban.