Fisheries commission to stop trawlers from fishing

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The Dixcove Co-management Forum Tuesday called on the Fisheries Commission to stop trawlers from fishing in the In-shore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) on the shores of Dixcove.

Members of the forum made the call at a stakeholders workshop on the Fisheries Law organized by the Forum and sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund at Takoradi.

The forum, which was attended by representatives from various fisheries associations, was to find the way forward in the enforcement of the Fisheries Act.

They said trawlers were competing with artisanal fishermen in the IEZ on the shores of Dixcove, although trawlers were not supposed to fish in In-shore Exclusive Zones which were reserved by law for artisanal fishing.

The members said the situation was making it difficult for fishermen at Dixcove to have good catch and thus, depriving them of their livelihood.

They, therefore, called on the Fisheries Commission to enforce the Fisheries Law in order to promote artisanal fishing.

Mr Daniel Awuku-Nyanteh, Fisheries Protection Officer, Fisheries Commission said industrial vessels were permitted to fish in In-shore Exclusive Zones except with permission to fish for certain kinds of fishes.

He said, ?Trawlers are not supposed to fish in In-shore Exclusive Zones and it is illegal to do so without permission.?

Mr Awuku-Nyanteh said the Fisheries Enforcement Unit of the commission conducted day and night patrols at sea to enforce the Fisheries Act.

He said the enforcement work of the commission had been boosted by its Automatic Identification System which made it possible to track vessels at sea.

He said few industrial vessels were going to the shores of Dixcove and many of them were turning their attention to the shores of Saltpond as a result of enforcing the law.

Mr Awuku-Nyanteh said trans-shipment at sea was illegal without supervision by an authorized officer. GNA

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