Kasseh-Ada, Feb. 21 GNA - The chief fishermen along the coastal lines of Ada have banned the use of light and generators for fishing in the Ada territorial waters. This decision was taken at a day's forum attended by the Chief Fishermen, Canoe Owners, Member of Parliament and staff of the Dangme East District Assembly.
The forum was organised to discuss the devastating effects of using light during fishing.
In a welcoming address, the Dangme East District Chief Fisherman, Nene George Amedalor III, said recent methods being used by some fishermen to fish in the sea and the numerous lagoons and rivers would have a devastating effect on the fishing industry in the very near future and radical step must be taken to prevent those unapproved methods.
Nene Amedalor said one major problem they face is that, Ghanaian fishermen do not engage in large-scale fish farming as other countries do to prevent extinction of specific species of fishes in the sea and the numerous lagoons. The Dangme East and West District Director of Fisheries Mr. Michael M. Kochidi said research has shown that Ghanaians consume more fish as compared to meat, and "if we continue to use unapproved methods in fishing we stand the risk of losing our fish stock in future." Mr. Kochidi mentioned some of the unapproved method of fishing as using explosive poisonous chemicals like DDT lighting, which attracts more fish and also makes fishes, which have become inactive due to the ocean current to become active. Furthermore, the use of materials and substances that make harvesting of fish very easy posed a danger to the fishing industry.
Mr. Kochidi expressed worry that if the practice is allowed to continue then certainly, disaster awaits all Ghanaians. Some participants at the forum expressed fear that their colleague fishermen around Lekpogunor in the Dangme West District use lighting at sea during fishing and this might have negative effects on fishing at Dangme East due to their common boundary. The MP for Ada Mr. Alex Narh Tetteh Enyo said over the years, the government made laws and there are regulations which govern society and as such methods used during fishing.
The Dangme East District Chief Executive, Mr. Israel Narh Boako told the gathering that the District Assembly has byelaws, which direct fishermen on the type of nets to use and where to use those fishing nets.
M. Boako said there is the need to form watchdog committee along the coast to monitor the equipment and methods being used by fishermen before allowing them to operate. There must be an inspection team to inspect the fishes caught to ascertain the methods and substances used in fishing.
Proposals were made through the district Assembly for the extendsion of naval operation to the territorial waters of Ada coastal line to prevent prohibited methods of fishing such as lighting. Prior to this, many chiefs along the coast of Ada tried to prevent fishermen and fishmongers from using lighting resulting in confusion and social unrest. Some chiefs, including Nene Moses Larbia Kitcher Ankamah of Akplabanya told the GNA that fishes caught with light have a bad taste and dangerous to human health which could result in death, although this has not been medically proved yet.
