Ghana has stepped up its efforts to crack down on ‘saiko’ – an illegal practice driving the collapse of Ghana’s inshore fishery, whereby industrial trawlers sell fish to local canoes at sea.
The country’s Fisheries Enforcement Unit has intercepted an alleged saiko canoe loaded with tonnes of frozen fish. Suitably deterrent sanctions must follow, say the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and local NGO Hen Mpoano, and they must be imposed not only on the saiko canoe owner, but also the operators and owners of the industrial trawl vessel that caught the fish.
“This is essential work on the part of the Ghanaian government and follows the positive steps already taken this year to stop saiko, such as placing observers on vessels” says EJF deputy director Max Schmid.
Deterrent sanctions
“These enforcement actions must now be followed by deterrent sanctions. Importantly, these should be imposed not only on the saiko canoe owner, but also the operators and owners of the industrial trawler that caught the fish,” he said.
“All trawlers are now subject to satellite monitoring, with human observers also present. Along with information from the owner and crew of the saiko canoe, it will be possible to identify the industrial vessel and to hold those responsible to account.”
Saiko is illegal under Ghanaian law, attracting a fine of between US$100,000 and US$2m. The minimum fine increases to US$1m where catches involve juvenile fish or the use of prohibited fishing gear. The owner and crew of the saiko canoe intercepted have been arrested and are being questioned.
