Government urged to check activities of fishing trawlers

Elmina (W/R), Feb. 29, GNA - Canoe owners in Elmina have again appealed to the Government and the Department of Fisheries to help check the activities of fishing trawlers which operate very close to the shores of the town.

Nana Kodwo Conduah, Omanhene of Edina Traditional Area, who made the appeal on behalf of the canoe owners, said the trawlers flout laws which prohibit them from operating less than 30 metres away from the shores.

He made the appeal when Mr Jacob Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, visited his palace as part of his one-day tour of the district. Nana Conduah further appealed for the extension of the operating distant of the fishing trawlers from 30 metres to about 200 metres so as to prevent them from destroying their nets.

He warned that the canoe owners would take the law into their own hands if the activities of the trawlers are not checked. He said the activities of the trawlers had made it difficult for them to make good catch for the past ten months.

Mr Arthur assured them that everything would be done to check the activities of the trawlers and advised them to form watchdog committees to check the operations of the trawlers.

The Minister asked them to keep the beaches clean and also form a taskforce to patrol the beaches to stop people from defecating along there. On the population and housing census, he advised them not to travel back to their hometowns to be counted. Rather they should stay at wherever they are living to be counted.