Accra, Aug. 26, GNA- The Ministry of Fisheries on Tuesday denied reports that foreign vessels were pair trawling in the country's territorial waters, stressing that those vessels were Ghanaian owned. Mrs Gladys Asmah, sector Minister told newsmen in Accra that the ban on pair trawling was still in place and the Ministry would in no way encourage the practice, to harm the fishing industry.

Mrs. Asmah was reacting to a statement made by the Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral A.R.S Nuno, in the Daily Graphic last Monday, that a large number of foreign vessels were engaging in pair trawling and that the Navy could do little to save the situation.

Pair trawling involves dragging a huge net between two boats to catch fish. Although catch through this method far exceeds the standard trawling, it is dangerous to aquatic habitat and species. Mrs. Asmah further indicated that the Ministry had not licensed any foreign vessel to pair trawl, but only four local companies were licensed in 2000, before the establishment of the Ministry, to use the method as an experiment for the study of its effects.

She said after the experiment period, the companies petitioned the Ministry to be allowed some more time, in order for them to settle their bank loans used in purchasing the vessels.

The Minister said the companies, namely Messrs Kiku Company, Cactus Enterprise, Nyameyie Cold stores Limited and MASS Fisheries Limited, would however have their licence evoked in December, this year. Mrs Asmah pointed out that foreigners on board the vessels should not be misconstrued that they were pair trawling, since they were just part of the crew employed due to the lack of required expertise in Ghana.

Touching on the Navy's role in enforcing the ban, the Minister described the claim that the Navy could do little to arrest the situation as "unfortunate". She said this was because the Navy had the sole responsibility to enforce and protect the country's territorial waters. She said the Ministry had paid millions of cedis to the Navy to conduct surveillance and arrest perpetrators, but the Navy had rather done little since the operations began. The Minister therefore asked Real Admiral Nuno to retract the statement, saying that the Ministry was not looking forward to any antagonism with the Navy but cooperation to protect the natural resource.