The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Francis Ato Cudjoe, says despite the revoking of the ban on fishing, the ministry will ensure strict restriction on the use of harmful chemicals and equipment by fishermen.
According to him, equipment such as dynamite, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and lights should be dealt away with by the fishermen to help the fish in the sea to recuperate.
In an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka FM’s AM Drive Monday, he said that the use of these equipment by the fishermen is a major factor for the decline in the production of fish in the sea.
“Our Fisheries Enforcement Unit together with the chief fishermen will ensure that chemicals and equipment like DDT, lights and dynamite would not be used by the fishermen in their activities.”
“We will implement what we call a co-management principle in executing this duty”. He said.
In this regard, he said that the management team will ensure that fisher folks who flout this directive will face the necessary disciplinary actions.
He also reacted to allegations that the ministry and for that matter, government has bowed to the pressure by the fishermen in order not to incur loss of vote in the subsequent general elections, describing such allegations as loose talk.
Commenting on the decision to revoke the ban, he said that the ministry upon receiving a report by the Scientific and Technical Working Committee, realized that a wide number of people would be affected by the ban- fishermen whose livelihood depend on fishing especially.
“…It is indeed true that revoking of the ban fishing will have an effect, but it must also be noted that, that we have realized that a number of people depend on fishing for livelihood and so if we go about ii as of now, it would do more harm than good”.
“…Upon reports that we received, it states that within three to five years, if there are not measures put in place to help the fish to recuperate, we will all be in trouble, and so we thought it wise to postpone the ban on fishing to enable us work within the three to five years’ period.” He said.
Ghana| atinkaonlinecom| Odel Boaheng
