Stop this dangerous practice
OUR marine resources are a very important national asset.In addition to what is obtained from our fresh water bodies, marine resources provide the chunk of the country’s protein needs.
From time immemorial, some fishermen and hunters have used all kinds of dangerous chemicals to trap fish and game which they put on the market.Innocent consumers of meat and fish buy these protein products at a risk to their health.
Stories abound, especially in the fishing communities and farming areas, of certain unscrupulous people using unorthodox practices to ply their trade.Currently, many farmers also apply herbicides on their farms, with the excuse that the use of machetes and hoes is very labour-intensive.
This practice has virtually killed flora and fauna and the situation explains why many animal and plant species have become endangered.Now the assault is on marine fauna by certain unscrupulous fishermen who, according to a report in our newspaper yesterday, have resorted to the use of DDT, carbide, dynamite and light for fishing.
The report said the consequence of the action was that most of the fishes were brought to the shore dead and discoloured, with broken flesh and sunken eyes, indications that they were not fresh.Some time last year, there was a similar report about the activities of some fishermen who were using dangerous chemicals to catch fish along the coast.
Besides the chemicals mentioned in yesterday’s report, we know that fishermen use other dangerous methods, such as small nets which sweep the ocean bed of all fishes, including fingerlings, thereby threatening the stock of fish in our marine and fresh water bodies.
When the story hit the newsstands yesterday, hell broke loose in certain circles, with some people putting the Daily Graphic in a pigeon hole, while others said we had an agenda against the government.
We want to restate quite clearly that the Daily Graphic’s agenda is to draw attention to the ills of society, with the view to engendering action from policy makers.That function we shall continue to perform, no matter whose ox is gored.
We restate that we shall not be mean but we shall be critical of the activities of those who must initiate the appropriate interventions to achieve the government’s agenda of a better Ghana.For those people who want us to behave like the characters in the Lion King episode, we say sorry, as we shall not renege on our constitutional charge of holding public office holders accountable for their actions.
Back to the issue of the use of dangerous chemicals in the fishing industry — we call on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Marine Police to investigate that development and bring the perpetrators to book.
The Daily Graphic thinks that instead of the name calling, everybody should be alarmed at this development in the Axim area and possibly other coastal towns and urge the appropriate authorities to act decisively to protect the fishing industry.
