REGIONAL FISHIERIES NEWS

UNCLAS ACCRA 000561 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID SENV XA CM GH SUBJECT: REGIONAL FISHIERIES NEWS ¶1. SUMMARY: Chinese industrial fishing practices off the coast of Cameroon are described as destructive and threatening. Ghanaian fishermen allege Chinese commercial trawling methods are damaging the artisanal fishing equipment. China completes site survey in Ghana for potential aquaculture sites. Finally, the completed design for 14 modern fish landing sites is delivered. END SUMMARY. Chinese commercial fishing in Cameroon -------------- ¶2. On April 22, the press reported that the general manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, Mr. Henry Njalla Quan, met with the Inspector General at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Mr. Daniel Awum Anaraban, in Limbe to launch a new fisheries data collections initiative aimed at improving sector assessment and monitoring. Mr. Quan used the occasion to urge the GoC to take action to reduce the impact of Chinese industrial fishing practices in Cameroonian coastal waters. Mr. Quan alleged that the Chinese are operating inside a three nautical mile exclusion zone reserved for artisanal fishing activity and the illegal fishing threatens future fish stocks. (COMMENT: Collection of fish catch statistics for analysis supports development of science-based policy for fisheries management. Comprehensive fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance coupled with effective law enforcement allow the use of best management practices for sustainable fish stocks. END COMMENT). Chinese and Ghanaian fishermen compete -------------- ¶3. On April 13, the press reported allegations of Chinese commercial fishing activities destroying artisanal fishing equipment. The REO confirmed the allegations with the Fisheries Department Director of monitoring, control and surveillance, Mr. Papa Yaw Atobrah. The artisanal fishing equipment has been damaged as a result of commercial fishing activities involving the Chinese. Pair trawling, a technique by which two trawlers employ a single trawl net to sweep a vast area between the vessels is effective but also destructive when used in shallow depths of 30 meters or less, in this case, reserved for artesian fishing activities. It is interesting to note that in 2004 there were 86 registered commercial fishing vessels operating in the territorial waters of Ghana, today there are 104 and there are about 13,000 registered artesian fishing canoes using some of the same fishing ground. The potential for conflict seems to be increasing. (COMMENT: Sustainable fisheries management practices can contribute to increased food security. Conversely, lack of maritime enforcement capacity can lead to an imbalance of marine natural resources and increased conflict on the open seas. Encouraged cooperation between the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Defense for improved joint mission planning and patrols could help to improve maritime domain awareness, assist in avoiding conflict and help sustain the Ghanaian fisheries stocks. END COMMENT). Chinese-Ghanaian aquaculture partnership -------------- ¶4. Mr. Pierre Coussey, Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries in Ghana, confirmed China completed site surveys in the Western region to identify potential sites to support aqua culture. The total investment will be about 45 million dollars and will make use of Chinese financing in the form of loans. The project will utilize about 2000 hectares in total and produce about 15,000 tons of Tilapia per year for domestic consumption. He also alluded to another partnership by which Salt resistant Tilapia small fry will be cultivated in Ghana and shipped to China for Coastal aquaculture operations. Fish landing sites -------------- ¶5. Finally, the master plan and final designs for 14 modern fish landing sites and 6 fishing port facilities were presented to the Ministry of Fisheries by the consultant, DHV Holland. The estimated cost for construction is around $100 million and the facilities will include: administrative offices, fuel depot, cold storage facility, equipment maintenance area, solid waste area, fish market and daycare facilities. The infrastructure improvements are designed to enhance the fishing sector, improve landing site safety and to assist in controlling coastal erosion. The chosen sites for the improvements are: Axim, Elmina, Dixcove, Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya, Beraku, Gomoa, Fetteh, Jamestown, Teshie, Ada, Keta, Dzemeni, and Tapa Abotosase. (COMMENT: The infrastructure improvement projects have been on the drawing board for about one year and are desperately needed. It is not clear how the project finances will be structured, perhaps another public-private partnership. END COMMENT). BRIDGEWATER