The Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson has announced that fishermen in Elmina of the Central Region will continue to observe the closed season despite the reopening of the sea for artisanal and inshore fleets.
The Minister explained that the decision was taken because of illegal fishing activities in the community.
She was speaking to the media at a reopening ceremony at Sekondi Fishing Habour on Saturday.
According to her, the fishermen refused to accept her campaign against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities hence the move would serve as a punishment for them.
“After my presentation on Tuesday, they said I said, they should stop the Saiko and light fishing which they were not happy with and so I should reverse that statement and I said no. I wasn’t ready and so they said if I am not going to reverse, I should take back the items I brought for them and I did”.
“Now they are begging, they have come to apologize, I am told they had a press conference, one of the chief fishermen is here to apologize but we still have to punish them for that I will not hide it,” she added.
Aside from that, the fishermen she noted would not receive premix fuel and other logistics they need from the government for their fishing activities until they comply with rules.
By:Rainbowradioonline.com
