By: Emmanuel Gameli Dovia| ignewss| Keta
The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) has engaged fishermen in the Keta municipality of the Volta region towards preparedness for the next close season and gear exchange.
The forum which was under the supervision of Friends of the Nation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in the area was attended by over fifteen fishermen.
Torgbui Gada, the Chief fisherman who chaired the meeting emphasised on the need for the use of appropriate and legal fishing net as approved by the Ministry Fisheries for their fishing activities.
He observed that, some fishermen are still engaging in light fishing, a practise which is illegal.
He said, many are also resistant against the law that prohibits the use of monofilament net and other illegal means of fishing even though the law against illegal fishing is well known to them.
The chief fisherman also stressed on the punitive measures for lawbreakers and the need for them to go by the fisheries ministry’s directives to avoid any legal action against any of them.
Mr. Kwesi Johnson, the municipal Director of Friends of the Nation also educated fishermen on the advantage of the Far Ban Bo project which most of them were ignorant about.
He said, although there were agitations about how expensive the multi-filament net is and how some marine creatures like crabs easily destroy it, he encouraged them to use it for their own good.
He noted that, the use of this multi-filament net will enable fishes to also breed more in the sea for bumper catches.
However, some fishermen have alleged that, an NGO like Far Ban Bo had only connived with the fishermen council to force them to the use the multi-filament net during the project period which ended in 2020 for their business interest.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com