A 40-horse power outboard motor would be sold to fishermen at a subsidised price of GH¢4, 900 instead of the market price of GH¢7, 500 during this year’s fishing season.

Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, announced this at a stakeholders’ forum on his Ministry’s preparation towards the 2012 fishing season with fisher-folks at the Tema Fishing Harbour.

He said this followed the importation of 1,000 pieces of the motors through collaboration between the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry.

He said the motors would be sold to fishermen on outright cash down basis through the Landing Beach Committees to ensure that genuine fisher-folks benefitted from the scheme.

Mr Ahwoi explained that the cash down method had become necessary because some fishermen who benefitted under the high-purchase financial arrangement for the 2010 fishing season had defaulted.

He said 100,778 metric tons of various mesh sizes of multifilament or legal netting materials have been ordered by MASLOC for sale to fishermen to replace the illegal ones, adding that, MASLOC in collaboration with his Ministry was importing additional 1,000 outboard motors for sale to the fisher-folks.

On premix fuel, the Minister said the National Premix Committee Secretariat in partnership with the Energy Commission and the Tema Oil Refinery had made adequate preparations to increase the supply of the commodity from 300,000 gallons per week to 450,000 per week during this year’s fishing seasons.

He appealed to fishermen to desist from using monofilament or illegal nets for fishing expeditions since those caught in the act would not be spared.

Mr Mike Akyeampong, Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, said defaulting fisher-folks who benefitted from the sale of the outboard motors would not be considered for any fishing input scheme until they settled their indebtedness to the ADB.**