Fisheries Commission starts registration of canoes in W/R

The exercise, which started on Monday, March 24, would be completed in four weeks and would also enable the Government to ascertain the number of canoes in the country.

Mr George Assefuah, Fisheries Manager in charge of Zone One in the Western Region, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it was a requirement under the fisheries laws for every canoe to be registered and urged canoe owners to endeavour to register.

He said the canoe registration exercise was funded by the World Bank and is being undertaken in seven West African countries including, Ghana, the Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cote dIvoire and Liberia.

Mr Assefuah said about 3000 canoes were expected to be registered in Zone One comprising 30 landing beaches in three districts namely; Shama, Sekondi-Takoradi and Ahanta West.

Some of the communities captured under Zone One are Awunakrom, Shama, Aboadze, Abuesi, Ngyerisia, Sekondi, New Takoradi, Dixcove, Miemia and Egyambra.

Mr Assefuah said the registration officers would take the following data into consideration: name of canoe, owner, telephone number, equipment used on the canoe, region, landing beach, type of business venture i.e. whether family property or joint venture, among other things.

Mr Assefuah said most often than not, when there was accident on the high seas, the Commission found it difficult to track the canoe owners to assist in investigations and payment of compensation to victims, hence, the need to register all canoes in the country to facilitate the work of the Commission.

He allayed the fears of fisher-folks that the Government was undertaking the registration exercise in order to collect taxes from them.

GNA