Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), on Tuesday called for stringent enforcement of the Fisheries Law to ensure sustainability of the industry.

"States and all those engaged in fisheries management should, through an appropriate policy, legal and institutional framework, adopt measures for long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources," Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah IV, Executive Secretary of the Council said at a press conference in Accra.

The press conference was to draw government's attention on the present state of artisanal fishery and the problems the industry was facing.

"We are also of the view that the government has the responsibility to save the industry from collapsing by ensuring that prices are kept within affordable limits," Nii Kyerekuandah said. He said though importers of fishery inputs were exempted from paying taxes, the industry still faced the financial burden of high pricing by importers.

"It seems to us that there is no outfit in place, which is given the responsibility to see to it that this exemption reflects in prices quoted by the importers."

Nii Kyerekuandah said research had shown that pressure on the existing stocks of fish was already high and they were seriously considering the possibility of introducing fish conservation practices. He warned that to allow pair trawling was to hasten the depletion of the scarce resources.

A pair trawler is one of two vessels towing one single trawl. The two vessels open the trawl horizontally by keeping a distance when towing. Experts say pair trawling is destructive to the fishing industry.

"Conservation and management measures whether at local, national, sub-regional or regional levels should be taken to ensure long-term sustainability of fisheries resources and maintain availability for present and future generation."

He said the destructive activities of fishing trawlers had become a major concern and questioned why such trawlers could be registered and allowed to operate in Ghana. "In other countries it is a crime but why has Ghana condoned it?" he asked.

Nii Kyerekuandah expressed concern about the rising cost of premix fuel for fishermen and urged government to do something about it. "In the meantime, however, we wish to passionately appeal to the Minster of Fisheries to make public two reports on premix administration in the country. The first is the Mensah Report and the second is the Minister's Committee's Report."

He said developing artisanal fishery to a more sophisticated level needed a colossal amount and called for active participation of the private sector to help in that direction.

"A well-organized artisanal fishery can help in no small way in promoting the growth of our economy."

Nii Kyerekuandah said although most artisanal fishermen were illiterate, there was the need for government to involve them in the non-formal education programmes, which would help increase their knowledge and acceptance to scientific methods and techniques of fishing.

He also called for the establishment of fishery tribunals to deal with fishermen who flouted the laid-down fishing laws and regulations, especially the use of lighting.