Elmina (C/R)-Ghana, July 04, GNA – The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) has hinted that the Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) installed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) on trawling vessels operating on Ghana’s territorial waters were unable to capture objects approaching the vessels.
Having an effective system to monitor approaching fishing vessels, according to GITA, remained vital to rooting out the surging impunity of pirates’ particularly in West Africa, with its dire consequences thereof.
Additionally, it will deter other illegal activities, ease communications, and lower the cost of investigations for violations and efficient inspections by certified agencies and institutions.
Mr. Stephen Adjokatcher, President of GITA made the appeal in a solidarity message at the fishing ‘Closed Season’ ceremony performed at Elmina on Saturday.
Closed season is observed as a way of reducing fishing pressure on stocks when they are most productive, in terms of allowing the fish a chance to lay their eggs to replenish the lost population due to fishing and other natural causes.
This year’s season performed at the newly built Elmina Fishing Harbour in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality of the Central Region commenced on Saturday, July 01 to Monday, July 31 for artisanal fishermen and Monday, July 31 to Thursday, August 31 for trawlers and vessels.
“It has come to the attention of industry that the EMS equipment on the vessels is unable to capture objects approaching the vessels.
“If the information we have is anything to go by, then MoFAD must relook the EMS equipment again to prevent piracy at sea,” he said.
The MoFAD in April this year, started the installation of monitoring devices on industrial vessels as part of measures to check illegal fishing activities and conserve Ghana’s fisheries resources.
The EMS included the installation of video cameras, the use of remote sensors, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) on industrial trawlers and tuna vessels licensed to fish in Ghana.
Mr. Adjokatcher gave a strong assurance of GITA’s continued support to the sector as exemplified by strict adherence to the ministerial directive on trawler fishing gear introduced in 2021 and the annual ‘Closed Season’ which was started in November 2016.
Others are, the ongoing Fisheries Commission Human Observer Programme which commenced in 2017, and the installation of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) device on industrial vessels which started in 2018.
Trawl fishing companies have also instituted stringent management measures aimed at dipping Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices to conserve marine resources he stated.
The measures, among others, are making substantial contributions to the country’s economy, as more than 80 percent of fish harvested, and landed by industrial trawl vessels are sold locally in Ghana.
It had also generated a lot of employment, as the fisheries value chain had more than 75 percent of the crew on board industrial trawl vessels being Ghanaians.
He described as a palpable false some recent publications of fledging activities of illegal transshipment of fish, by some local NGOs, academia, and individuals targeted at tarnishing the image of the trawl industry.
He said the issues of transshipment from industrial trawl vessels to canoes at sea stopped in 2021, yet he could not comprehend why it continues to show old videos of transshipment at sea at national and international conferences.
The situation, according to him, was making the trawling sector unattractive and therefore driving out investors amidst intimidation under the disguise of enforcing the laws and regulations.
Mr Adjokatcher said such false publications, he said, has done more harm to the country, saying that, “perhaps a reason for Ghana being yellow carded by the EU.”
“Such publications are destroying the businesses of our member companies and hampering the efforts of the government and industry towards convincing the European Union to withdraw the Yellow Card issued to Ghana.
“|Like any other, the fisheries sector or institution is not perfect, however, these undesirable publications by these local NGOs and individuals in academia are not only tarnishing the image of the trawl sector but also undermining the positive gains made so far by Ghana in the fight against IUU fishing,” Mr. Adjokatcher said.
