Fishermen urged to prevent depletion of marine resources

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Mr Aquinas Tawaih Quansah has suggested the placing of a ban on fishing during certain periods of the year to allow fishes to breed and grow.

He said during the period of the ban, Ghanaians could rely on aqua-culture, which the government is making every effort to develop for their fish supply.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Saltpond, Mr Quansah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, said the nation coastal belt covers about 550 kilometres and the nation fishermen seem to be more than the coastal belt could contain, leading to over exploitation.

He appealed to the fishermen to adopt good fishing practices to prevent marine depletion, saying that, adopting bad practices such as using light for fishing, the use of chemicals and mesh net could compound the already precarious situation.

Mr Quansah said the government was concerned about the depletion of fishes in Ghanaian waters, leading to poor catches by fishermen, adding that, government has acquired new speed boats for the Navy to track those who engage in pair-trawling and other bad fishing methods in Ghanaian waters.

The Minister advised the fishermen not to be their own enemies, but rather watch-dogs and protect the sea by reporting their colleagues who adopt bad practices in fishing to the authorities.

He noted that fishing gears were expensive and that some fishermen go for loans to invest in the fishing industry with the hope of paying back during major fishing seasons; therefore, they should help make the industry lucrative by desisting from practices, which destroys marine life.