Three foreign fishing vessels were last Thursday arrested by patrolmen of the Ghana Navy, about 26 nautical miles south of Half Assini, for fishing in the country’s territorial waters.
The vessels without license to fish in Ghana, have since berthed at the Naval Base in Sekondi. The vessels are M/S Montecelo and M/S Egazule both registered in Spain, while the third, M/S Cap Saint Pierre is registered in France. They are all based in Cote D’ivoire.
Briefing newsmen, Commodore Jonathan Y. Adoko, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command said the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) abounds in large marine resources, especially fishes which are being exploited by foreign and local vessels. He said to check the illegal practice, Naval patrols along Ghana’s Territorial waters has been intensified and those arrested have each paid fines ranging between 38 and 136 million cedis.
“The fisheries law among other things states that no foreign fishing vessels, shall fish or attempt to fish within the fishing waters in Ghana without a valid license or authority,” he added.
Commodore Adoko said any foreign vessel used in contravention of the law is considered to be poaching and is liable to fines and other penalties.
