‘Take measures to restore fish stocks’

The fishermen were speaking at an interactive session with journalists on a field trip to Axim as part of a training workshop organised by the European Union to create awareness of EU projects and support to the country.

The trip was to give journalists the opportunity to assess projects being undertaken with support from the EU.

The Axim landing site, to be executed by China Harbour and Engineering Company over a 30-month period, will involve the construction of breakwater, a quay wall, dredging and ancillary facilities.

No fish

But some of the fishermen said the landing sites might have no canoes landing with fish.

The Chief Fishermen of Axim Apewosika, Nana Kojo Pegu, said the state of the fisheries must be restored first by ensuring that all illegalities at sea were reduced to the barest minimum.

He said the closed season did little to redeem the situation. “The situation has not changed and efforts must be directed at restoring the fishery resources," he stated.

The Western Regional General Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen's Council, Mr Michael Abakah-Edu, said building landing sites and harbours was good, “but we must first restore the fishery resources.”

Mr Abakah-Edu called on politicians to stop interfering in the fishing industry operations and rather commit to fight the illegalities to restore sanity in the sector.

The Konkohemaa of Axim Apewosika, Nana Aba Ayam, said people had left the community because some of them were in debt due to the depleting fish stocks.

Ankaful

The journalists also visited Saltpond, in the Central Region, to acquaint themselves with the activities of trawlers at sea.

A fisherman, Egya Kofi Sam, told the journalists that industrial trawlers invade artisanal waters, adding that this had compelled some artisanal fishermen to adopt illegal practices to fish.