An artisanal fisherman at the Tema Manhean Landing Beach, Yasser Arafat-Ali, has called on government to deploy military personnel on board industrial fishing vessels to curb illegal fishing.
He said weak enforcement has allowed destructive practices by some trawlers to continue. This, he noted, is depleting fish stocks and threatening the future of the sector.
Mr. Arafat-Ali made the call at the Tema Canoe Basin in Tema Newtown during an event addressed by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur.
He argued that while illegal practices exist among artisanal fishers, they are often driven by hardship and low catches. He said stricter control of industrial vessels would reduce the pressure on local fishers.
According to him, activities such as habitat destruction by trawlers have reduced fish availability along the coast. This has left many artisanal fishers struggling to earn a living.
He also alleged misconduct among some fisheries observers assigned to monitor industrial vessels. He claimed some are bribed to ignore illegal practices, including the transshipment of fish at sea.
“In some cases, observers are paid to stay ashore while vessels operate without supervision,” he said.
He believes deploying military personnel on board vessels would serve as a strong deterrent against such practices.
Mr. Arafat-Ali further raised concerns about the harvesting of juvenile fish and small pelagic species like anchovies. He warned that this disrupts the marine ecosystem and reduces the availability of more valuable fish.
Despite the concerns, he welcomed recent government measures. He pointed to the enforcement of the 12-nautical-mile inshore exclusion zone as a positive step.
He said strict compliance with the policy could help restore fish stocks and support the recovery of the fishing industry.
