Demonstration by Fishermen was positive-Ahwoi

Accra, June 16, GNA - Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture said on Wednesday that the demonstration embarked on by members of Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council on Tuesday was positive. He said it sent a strong signal that there was the need to implement the Fisheries Regulations 2010 (Legislative Instrument 1968). He said the demonstration carried quiet a serious note that the law ha= d been passed by Parliament and was suppose to be implemented. The group petitioned President Mills to ensure that the laws governing fishing in the country are applied.

The fishermen were not happy that after years of the promulgation of the law, which makes certain fishing practices illegal, nothing was bein= g done by the authorities to apply the law.

Mr Ahwoi who was answering a question on the floor of Parliament said there was the need for an Enforcement Unit responsible for the implementation of the fisheries regulations. He said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in consultation with the Ministry of Defence had appointed a Committee to come out with modalities for the establishment of the Unit in accordance with Section 94 of the Fisheries Act.

He said the Committee had submitted its report to the two Ministries and the Fisheries Commission for review.

The Minister said the Enforcement Unit would facilitate arrest and prosecution of offenders of the laws and regulations. Mr Ahwoi explained that the Fisheries Commission in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority was taking steps to hook fishery surveillance on to the integrated coastal surveillance system to provide an efficient monitoring device for effective checking of fishing activities along the coast.

He said the Fisheries Commission in collaboration with the Bureau of Ghana Languages had concluded procurement procedures to have the contents o= f the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I.1968) translated into five Ghanaian languages namely, Dangbe, Ga, Fante, Ewe and Nzema for easy appreciation an= d compliance by fishers.