Ms Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, has warned that illegal fishing activities in the Western and Central regions, if not checked, could lead to the destruction of several fish species in the country's waters.
She said some fishing fleets and canoe fishermen use illegal nets, poisonous chemicals and dynamite in their operations, thus destroying the fish stocks.
Ms Horner-Sam said these at the first workshop organised by the Fisheries Management Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for fishermen in the Central and Western Regions.
The workshop formed part of the Fisheries Sub-sector Capacity Building Project, which is sponsored by the World Bank to sensitise fishermen and technical staff in both regions.
She said she was, however, happy that fishermen have realised the dangers in their actions and had, even sworn oaths to desist from the use of dynamite in fishing.
"I hope more positive steps will be taken to bring sanity into the fishing industry in the country not only for the benefit of all, but first and foremost to our fishermen themselves, to protect their own vocation from destruction" she said.
