Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Moses Anim has revealed that about 14 fishing vessels have departed Ghana’s territorial waters for failing to comply with the country’s fishing regulations.
Mr Anim said the Ministry together with the Fisheries Commission conducted a survey on all fleets, which revealed that a significant number of trawlers operating in the country’s waters are using unapproved gear, harvesting fishes they are not licensed to catch, leading to near depletion of the fish stock.
For this reason, he said the Ministry has tightened regulations, by reviewing and strictly enforcing the Fisheries Acts, particularly Act 625 to give it more teeth to bite.
He said this at a forum organised by the Environment for Development Ghana in collaboration with the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research and the University of Ghana.
The forum sought to, among others, analyse current fisheries policies and offer alternative policies for the sustainability and management of the fisheries sector.
SOURCE: GNA
