Winneba (C/R) March 5 GNA - Neenyi Kweku Mbir, Apofohene of Effutu in the Central Region, on Thursday appealed to the government to enforce the country's fishing laws strictly to save the fishing industry from collapse.
He said in spite of the various forms of assistance from the government to fishermen, the industry had become unprofitable while fish landings have reduced over the past four years in the Central Region.
According to him the situation had made it impossible for most fishermen to repay their bank loans and cater for their children.
The Apofohene attributed the fall in fish landings on the use of unapproved methods and gear including under-sized nets and aggregating light system by some fishermen, which he said depleted fish.
Neenyi Mbir said some fishermen from the area had migrated to some of the neighbouring countries where fishing was lucrative.
He commended the government for the regular supply of pre-mix petrol to fishermen in the Effutu area.
Meanwhile the Awutu Effutu-Senya District Office of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has confirmed that most of the child neglect cases it handled in 2003 involved Fishermen.
