Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Mavis Hawa Koomson says plans on ongoing to replace the existing Fisheries Act with one that prescribes severe punishment to infractions on laid down rules to fishing on the nation’s territorial waters.
The move, she said, is part of reforms in the sector to help the nation to tackle the menace of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and allied fisheries crimes.
The minister disclosed this when she commissioned a new regional monitoring, control and surveillance centre (RMCSC) to help curtail IUU fishing and other fisheries-related crimes, in Tema on Wednesday.
According to the minister, the menace of IUU fishing and other fisheries crimes remain worrisome to the government due to their negative impact on fisheries resources and the loss of revenue to the state, describing the facility as a timely intervention.
“No single country can combat IUU fishing and the launch of the RMCSC has come at an opportune time. Now is the time for us to collectively tackle the menace,” she said.
“Through this facility and other efforts of the FCWC and its partners, the menace of IUU and other emerging issues confronting the fisheries sector such as maritime security could be dealt with in a more decisive manner,” the minister added.