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0 A Security Lecturer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Dr Victor Doke, has called on the Fisheries Commission to strictly enforce sanctions against fishermen who go beyond approved fishing zones.
His comments follow the recent armed robbery incident at sea, where several Ghanaian fishermen were attacked, and their valuables were violently taken at gunpoint on Wednesday, February 25.
According to him, consistent enforcement would not only ensure compliance but also enhance safety at sea. He explained that staying within approved limits makes rescue operations easier during emergencies, reduces exposure to pirate attacks, and allows fishermen to return to shore quickly when faced with difficulties.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on February 26, Dr Doke said education alone is not deterring fisherfolk from flouting regulations, stressing that enforcement must now take centre stage.
“There’s a difficult call for the Fisheries Commission, and I don’t know how they get to do it, whether they have to now plant men in the canoes where these fisherfolks are going on hikes or what. But since they’ve been educated, it’s not working,” he stated.
Dr Doke argued that the law is clear on enforcement, and authorities must not relent in enforcement.
“I think what the law has said should be implemented. Now, if you realise that the fisherfolks have gone beyond a certain limit, what are the sanctions? You just apply it,” he said.
“When we begin to apply sanctions, many of those fisherfolks will learn that for their own safety you are required to stay at a certain limit,” he noted. “It’s all about implementing sanctions. If you are not able to do that, then it means we just go back to the same problem over and over again.”
Beyond national enforcement, Dr Doke also raised concerns about the broader, regional dimension of maritime security, urging a more coordinated approach among countries within the sub-region to address the changing dynamics of threats at sea.
The recent attack has once again drawn attention to security vulnerabilities in Ghana’s maritime space and the need for stricter adherence to fisheries regulations as part of efforts to protect lives and livelihoods.
