Officials at the Ghana Maritime Authority are having sleepless nights over illegal fishing activities on the part of some fishing vessel operators on the high seas of Western Region, despite persistent warnings to fishermen to refrain from this negative practice.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Takoradi on Tuesday, the Western Regional boss of GMA, Captain Clifford Agyepong, therefore urged the law-abiding ones among them to promptly report recalcitrant colleagues or any foreign vessel found fishing with light, unauthorised nets, dynamite or any harmful chemical on the high seas to the security agencies.
The meeting was held to draw attention to abuse of the high sea by some fishermen and effects of their activities. It was also used to collate views on strategic ways of fighting the menace.
Captain Agyepong said fishermen in the region are regularly sensitised on safe fishing methods and wondered why some of them continue operating illegally.
The monitoring agency actors maintained that illegal fishing does not only deplete the sea and other water bodies but also paint a very bad image of Ghana on the international scene.
According to the Authority, consumers also put their lives in danger by taking in fish caught through illegal methods.
It is against this backdrop that the GMA officials have pledged to team up with sister security personnel from the Port and Harbours Authority and Ghana Navy to wage a relentless warfare against illegal fishing in Western Region.