26.11.2007
Obey trawling ban, warns State
Story by DANIEL NYASSY
An Assistant minister for Fisheries has warned trawler owners that
their licences will be revoked in two weeks if they continue
flouting a fishing ban that is still in force.
Fishing in the Indian ocean. |
Speaking during
a World Fisheries Field Day at Ngomeni Village in Malindi,
Mr Abu Chiaba said it was regrettable that trawling had
sneaked back despite a ban effected late last year. His
warning followed complains from fishermen that trawlers were
back to within less than five nautical miles from the shore
although a government ban was still in force.
“Mr minister, we are surprised that trawlers are back in the
shallow waters while a government ban is still in force;
what is happening?,” asked Ngomeni Beach Management Unit
chairman, Omari Mshamu.
He said the trawlers were destroying fishing breeding sites
and other gear used by small fishermen thus depleting fish
stocks.
The same vessels have also been accused of scooping small
fish and fish eggs as well as destroying young corals
through their fishing methods of dragging nets on the sea
bed. |
“I am directing the fisheries director to write to the trawler
owners immediately to stop them from fishing within shallow waters.
The ministry will withdraw all their trawler licences if they
don’t stop in two weeks time,” Mr Chiaba said
He said since trawling was banned almost a year ago, fish stocks
had remarkably increased in the sea and accused the big vessels of
depleting them.
Deputy fisheries director, Mr Mathias Wafula who accompanied Mr
Chiaba, said the government had licensed about 10 trawlers to fish
in the deep waters five nautical miles or more from the seashore.