By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Ada, April 02, GNA – The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), Greater Accra Region, has lauded the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission for suspending licences of four industrial trawl vessels operating within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for illegalities.
The council also called on its members to take lessons from the suspension and eschew illegalities in their fishing activities.
Nene Raymond Abayateye II, Fisherman and Chairperson of the GNCFC, Greater Accra Region, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ada, noted that the suspension had been long overdue due to the havoc some trawlers caused to the sea.
Nene Abayateye, who doubles as the chief fisherman of Anyaman, added that some of the fishing practices of the trawlers rendered the canoe fishermen hopeless with no catch when they go for fishing.
He called on the canoe fishermen to take note of the suspension on the trawlers, adding that illegal fishing activities could cause the depletion of the fish in Ghana’s marine waters.
He cautioned that any canoe found engaging in illegal fishing activities would face punishment and possible suspension.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the ministry announcing the suspension indicated that “the vessels—Meng Xin 10 (Owners: Nassa Co. Ltd.), Florence 2 (Owners: Akrafi Fisheries), as well as Long Xiang 607 and Long Xiang 608 (Owners: Wannimas Complex Co. Ltd.), were found to have engaged in multiple illegal fishing practices, including unauthorised transshipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones and harvesting of juvenile fish.”It added that the 12-month suspension was due to repeated violations of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), and the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1968).
According to the ministry, their practices threatened Ghana’s marine ecosystem, undermined efforts toward sustainable fisheries management and adversely affected the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.
“In accordance with Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), which empower the minister to suspend licenses of vessels involved in repeated illegalities, the affected vessels have had their licenses suspended for a period of twelve (12) months, effective 1st April 2025,” part of the statement read.
It also stated that Ghana’s fisheries sector had long been challenged by overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, which continued to endanger marine biodiversity, erode the income of artisanal fishers and compromise national food security.
The ministry expressed worry that despite ongoing stakeholder engagement, education and regulatory reforms, certain industrial fishing operators continue to act with impunity, reiterating the ministry’s unwavering commitment to strict enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations as part of its mandate to safeguard Ghana’s marine resources.
The ministry cautioned all fishing operators – industrial, semi-industrial, and artisanal –to comply fully with the provisions of the law, adding that continued violations would attract sanctions including licence suspensions, cancellations and legal action.
GNA
LS/GRB