Marine Police impound Chinese fishing trawler
A Chinese fishing trawler alleged to have been operating illegally along the coast of Sekondi-Takoradi has been impounded by the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
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A total of 954 cartons of fish were found in the vessel.
According to the police, the Chinese trawler was found to have violated the country’s fisheries regulation 15 of LI 1968, section 89 of Act 625 of 2002.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Director of Marine Police, Ports and Railways at the Takoradi Port, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr S. Owusu-Berko, said the crew were arrested upon a tip-off.
He said the trawler, Lu Rong Yuan Yu 916, had an International Maritime Organisation number 8673891 and was flying the flag of Ghana at the time of the crew’s arrest.
He said the crew were using unapproved methods such as the use of obstruction mesh, chaffers topside and fishing fingerlings in contravention of the regulations.
Vessel impounded
Mr. Owusu-Berko said the captain of the trawler, Wang Wei, 41, and Chief Engineer, Tang Ran Cai, have been granted police enquiry bail while the vessel had been impounded and was at the Home Port of the Western Naval Command in Sekondi.
He said various stakeholders would collaborate to ensure the law took its course to protect the country’s fish stock.
