Illegal fishing activities along Ghana's coast have in recent times reached an alarming rate, a factor contributing largely to the wanton depletion of the fish stock.
The operations of Chinese vessels, especially Pair-Trawlers are also increasing the situation, raising concerns about the commitment of relevant institutions in enforcing fishing laws and regulatory frameworks.
Against this backdrop, a group of fishers calling itself the Concerned Net Owners Association, which operates at the Denu Landing Beach in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region has raised critical concerns about the dominant practice, calling on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua Culture Development (MoFAD) to urgently step in to curb the devastating practice.
In a petition addressed to the sector minister and copied to relevant institutions, the group pointed accusing fingers at their counterparts at Adina, a major fishing community in the Municipality who according to them were deeply involved in the use of Poly nets for their activities (which importation and use was banned since 1994, by the then Jerry Rawlings led administration. "Adina, for example, has over 300 Poly nets operating at that landing beach alone - Meanwhile, the approved measurement of Poly nets required for weaving our nets is just 50 yards - nowadays, you could count up to 500 yards from beginning to the end of the fishing nets," lamented Francis Kofi Bedzo, leader of the group, who doubles as the Volta Regional Organizer of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG).
