'Deal with fishermen who flout closed season directives'

Some fishermen within the Chorkor and James town fishing communities have called on government to deal with culprits who would flout fishing commands in the closed season, to serve as a deterrent to others.

This according to them would yield dividend if all fishermen across the country adhered to commands from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, Tei Banku, the Assistant Chief Fisherman of Chorkor Lanteman fishing area, noted that their tools had been laid down to observe the closed season as expected.

He explained that despite the proposals from their leaders to observe the season on the July 1st to July 31, they were going with that of the Ministry because it would save them from the perennial stormy and rainy weathers they encounter during their operations in the month of May.

He also said that observing the closed season in May would enable them to prepare adequately for the next season and also protect their fishing items.

He, however, pleaded with the Government to at least compensate them in subsequent closed seasons in order to ease their plight during the period.

“The only work we do is fishing and this is really going to affect most of us, especially, those of us here in the capital who have no source of income”, he said.

Mr. John Botwe, a fisherman at the Jamestown fishing community on his part, bemoaned the activities of fishing trawlers as a hindrance to the successes of the initiative, adding that they expected all types of fishing to ceased, as the closed season was being observed.

“The fishing trawlers usually operate from 50 yards and they are bound to descend further on-shore since we are not at sea for a period of time to police them, adding their activities might undermine the initiative in achieving its objective”, he said.

The closed season is expected to last from May 15 to June 15.