Two local fishing trawlers have been slapped with a $20,000 fine for engaging in the illegal act of pair trawling.
The two were arrested by the Navy in Apam over the week-end.
Naval officers patrolling the nation’s coast are still on the look out for other trawlers who escaped on the day the two were arrested.
Pair trawling, the practice of dragging nets between two trawlers was outlawed in 2005 due to its devastating effects on the fishing industry.
Local fishermen have attributed the poor catch this season to the activities of pair trawling with accusations that foreign fishing vessels were behind it.
But Alex Addo Western Region Director of the fisheries department confirmed to Joy news that the trawlers were owned and operated by Ghanaians.
“It is not a foreign vessel; they are Ghanaian owned and operated companies with foreign nationals on them.”
He said the two opted for an out-of-court settlement, something allowed in the fishing code, and have therefore been fined $10,000 each.
He insisted the practice of pair trawling was injurious to the industry for which reason it was outlawed in 2005.
