Ship operating in illegal waters arrested by Navy

Sekondi, Feb. 16, GNA - The Western Naval Command (WNC) has arrested four Chinese and 25 Ghanaians for fishing within illegal waters. Their names were not given and would appear before court soon. The vessels involved are "Awo Yaa Two and Awo Yaa Eight, all belonging to the same company.

Briefing the media at Sekondi on Monday, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Tim Appiah, said the crew of the two ships were arrested on February 12 at 0045hrs along the Cape Coast-Elmina Coast.

He said the groups were fishing within the 21 metres deep of probative fishing. "Fingerlings usually stay in those areas and migrated when they are able to move freely. The act of the groups deprives the fingerlings the opportunity to grow," Commodore Appiah she. He said when such fingerlings are harvested, they are dumped again into the sea and many of them are destroyed. Commodore Appiah said the Ghana Navy will continue to patrol the prohibitive zone and prevent encroaches and illegal activities.