Prohibition of fishing but control of operators of industrial trawlers – Rawlings in government

Former President Jerry John Rawlings commended the government for imposing a fishing ban on industrial trawlers for two months in Ghana's coastal borders.

The former president reacted to a statement by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, upholding the ban.

However, he said, in addition to implementing the ban to protect the country's marine resources, the government should investigate the excessive proliferation of industrial trawlers in recent years, which has led with the depletion of fish stocks in our waters and almost brought the local artisbad fishing industry to his knees.

Lieutenant Rawlings said that many fraudulent activities had occurred recently in the fishing industry and that it was important that these activities be the subject of in-depth investigations as they led to the proliferation trawlers in our coastal waters.

The past president said it was important that the fishing industry be healthy in spirit and that efforts be made to apply best practices in harvesting our fisheries resources.

"It is commendable that fish catches have improved this year, according to the minister. The government should work in partnership with all stakeholders so that they understand the importance of instituting annual fishing bans and the need to limit the number of industrial trawlers operating our waters, "he said. the former president.