Fishermen in the six coastal districts of the Western region are asking the Jubilee partners and government for a physical demarcation of the 500 meters exclusive zone around the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah for fishing.
This, according to them will end the uncertainty surrounding the distance by which fishing can be carried out.
[contextly_sidebar id=”BJBIw7FHb2pxBYOkBlxcfVoXyPSsg690″]“We told them [Jubilee Partners] to put some mark at where we have been told not to go, to show the beginning of the 500 meters exclusive zone but they didn’t. So now after reducing our scope of fishing, there is no sign to show us where we can and cannot go. There is now uneasiness and uncertainty surrounding our work at sea.”
The Western Regional Organizer of the Hook and Line and Canoe Fishing Association, Evans Takie Annan told Citi News.
It will be recalled that the lead operator of Jubilee Fields Tullow Plc on February 24 this year, reported that fishing activities close to the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah was putting the field in danger.
Reports also indicate that three fishermen engaged the security crew on the FPSO in a scuffle.
The fishermen were subsequently handed over to the Ghana Maritime Police at the Sekondi Naval Base for fishing within the exclusive zone.
Evans Takie Annan said, “How can a referee blow his whistle for a throw foul on a football pitch when there are no clear markings on the pitch to warrant such? How do you also expect the fisherman to comply with the exclusive zone limit when we have no markings on the waters to begin the exclusive zone? They can use buoys to mark the beginning of the exclusive zone. At the moment, like footballers, we cannot stop playing because of our fans, but the way to ensure we are playing within the given pitch is to physically mark the field, not just by the egos of the referee who can be bias, but by a mark we can all see and respect.”
Mr. Takie Annan who believes the account given by Tullow on the said scuffle was inconsistent with the truth, adding that “some of our members go to that area because we cannot determine the beginning of the area. We want what will show our members that this is the beginning of the danger zone and we are ready to respect that.”
He asked government to ensure that the markings are done immediately to ensure peaceful coexistence.
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana