Fishermen and fishmongers in Senya Bereku in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region are raising concerns over what they describe as a sharp decline in fish catch.
They say they no longer get enough fish when they go out to sea.
Speaking to Oyerepa and Promise News, an executive member of the Senya Fishermen Association, Op. Senya Kwaw Arkoh, said many fish species are disappearing, making it difficult for fishermen to make a good catch during fishing expeditions.
He attributed the depletion of fish stocks to illegal fishing practices such as the use of light and dynamite.
Op. Arkoh is therefore calling on authorities to take immediate action to stop the use of unapproved fishing methods. He also refuted claims that fishermen in Senya Bereku use undersized nets.
Some young fishermen in the area, who gave their names as Nii Quaye, Kwaku Emmanuel, and Kwame Lucifer, corroborated his claims. They accused some authorities of allegedly accepting money from certain fishermen to allow them to engage in illegal fishing practices.
Nii Quaye said several complaints have been made, but no action has been taken against offenders.
Kwaku Emmanuel appealed to the government to deploy more naval patrols to prevent foreign fishing vessels from entering Ghana’s territorial waters.
Kwame Lucifer noted that the declining fish stock is negatively affecting their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, some fishmongers, including Ama Sika and Felicia Awo, also blamed the situation on illegal fishing methods, particularly light fishing.
Ama Sika said the low fish catch is hurting their businesses, while Felicia Awo appealed to the government to provide soft loans to help them expand and sustain their operations.
