The Western Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNFC), Mike Abakah-Adu has described the revocation of licenses of the four industrial trawl vessels engaged in illegal fishing as non-punitive.
In his opinion, the offence as committed, warrants a more punitive action that would deter other fishers from engaging in illegal fishing.
Four fishing vessels; Meng Xin 10, (Owned by Nassa Co. Ltd.), Florence 2 (Owneed by Akrafi Fisheries), Long Xiang 607 and Long Xiang 608, owned by Wannimas Complex Co. Limited were found to have engaged in multiple illegal fishing practices, including unauthorized transshipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones and harvesting of juvenile fish.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, acting in accordance with Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) revoked the licenses of these vessels for a period of 12 months effective from 1 April 2025.
But this sanction, according to Mr Abakah-Adu is too lenient, given the dictates of the fisheries regulation. Speaking exclusively to Connect News in Takoradi on April 2, he referenced that the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2014, Act 880 proffers specific sanctions in dealing with Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Ghana.
“Though I support the Fisheries Commission’s decision to suspend the licenses of these four vessels, I believe a more stringent penalty is warranted. A fine of US$2 million is justified considering the multiple violations of the fisheries regulations” he added.
He says these regulations are effected in conformity to international conventions and best practices in fisheries management, and that Ghana is obliged to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding its marine resources.
Regulation 2 of ACT 880 of the Fisheries Act 2014 proffer fines against persons or organizations complicit in any form of illegal fishing in Ghana. This provision dictates: “A person who undertakes any of the activities identified as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing under subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to:
(a) a fine of not less than one million United States Dollars and not more than two million United States Dollars for a first time contravention;
(b) a fine of not less than two million United States Dollars and not more than four million United States Dollars for a second contravention and in addition, a license or authorization issued in respect of the fishing vessel is considered to be suspended for six months from the date of conviction; and
(c) a fine of not less than two million United States Dollars and not more than four million United States Dollars for a third contravention and in addition, the Commission shall revoke any license or authorization granted in respect of the fishing and take immediate steps to delete the name of the fishing vessel from the Ghana Shipping Registry by the competent Authority.”
