Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - Friends of the Nation (FoN), a non governmental organisation concerned with natural resources management, on Monday called for the immediate ban of the practice of pair-trawling in Ghanaian waters, which was promoting illegal trans-shipment of fish and depleting fisheries resources.

They are also requesting an effective enforcement of the ban to ensure that no illegal pair trawling was undertaken. Mr Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah, Programmes Coordinator of FoN, who made the call at the press briefing in Accra, called for the Ministry of Fisheries, Fisheries Commission, Navy and coastal communities to be adequately resourced to effectively carry out monitoring control and surveillance activities.

Mr Yamoah, outlining the numerous problems facing the fishermen said though fisheries resource served as a major source of livelihood for coastal communities and the fisheries sector, lack of collective responsibility by the state, its agencies and the communities had affected management of fisheries. He noted that there was depletion of marine fish stock due to the practice of open access regime where anybody could carry a canoe to fish.

He said weak community-based fisheries management committees contributed to the problems facing the fisheries sector. He attributed these problems to the low harvest and/or no harvest compelling the artisanal fishermen to compete with highly sophisticated industrialized fishing vessels in the era where fishing industry required high financial inputs. To effectively meet the objectives of fish stock conservation and promote fishery livelihoods, FoN recommended an official close seasons for fishing.

"Marine reserves should be demarcated and protected to serve as breeding grounds for fish.. Serious measures should be put in place to reduce the pollution of the lagoons." Mr Ato Serto and Kobina Badu, both fishermen of Elmina, expressed regret about "the silence" of the government to the plea of fishermen and appealed to government to ban pair-trawling.