The illegal fishing activities of bigger fishing vessels operating within 30 metres of any fishing zone around the coastal areas of Ghana are reported to be ruining the operations of the country's (artisanal) canoe fishermen. Commonly referred to as Inshore Exclusive Zone, the place harbours loads of fishes which the canoe fishermen depend on for their livelihood. The continuous infiltration by industrial fishing trawlers, pair trawlers, small and semi-¬industrial vessels are however driving the fishes into the deep sea thus making it difficult for the canoe fishermen to make any meaningful catch. The canoe fishermen, said to be numbering around two hundred and fifty thousand, are reported to be in serious crisis because of the present situation. Several complaints from the fishermen to the Fisheries Ministry led to the banning of the bigger vessels. Among some of the measures the ministry implemented to monitor the activities of the bigger vessels within the non-allocated zone was the slapping of fines running into thousands of dollars on both foreign and local trawlers. At a press conference this week, Minister for Fisheries Gladys Asmah said her ministry will not hesitate to slap fines ranging between US$10,000 and US$I00,OOO for local industrial vessels and US$100,000 and US$500,000 on foreign fishing vessels. ''Any industrial vessel that destroys the fishing gear of artisanal fishermen that have been appropriately marked will pay a fine of US$5,000¬ - US$100,000 and in addition pay full compensation for the destroyed gear, and adequate compensation for lost fishing time." Mrs. Asmah who is also the MP for Takoradi in the Western Region expressed reservation about reports that most of the big vessels still stray into the IEZ resulting in the destruction of gears, loss of property and conflict operators. She said it is important for operators of the big vessels to ensure that allegations levelled against them are not true by avoiding straying into the 30metre zone. Mrs. Asmah cited the confrontation between fishermen in Keta on one hand and that of operators of the trawlers over the destruction of the former's fishing gear. She warned that her ministry would not sit unconcerned while operators in the industry violate the laws of the country. "This is because the Ministry has not only a mandate to ensure compliance of our Fisheries Act but also that fishermen go about their businesses without harming others or causing small operators to lose their business." According to her "this will also ensure viability and profitability of businesses." Mrs. Asmah added that wealthy operators should not be allowed to bully the weak and the poor operators. Gladys Asmah also mentioned that the ministry in collaboration with the Navy will continue to monitor the activities of the big vessels during their operations on the high seas. She said the ministry since 2005 and in line with recommendations from the Food and Agriculture Organisation implemented a Vessel Monitoring System to check the excess of the trawlers on high seas. "Transponders have been fitted on industrial vessels for the VMS to track their operations at sea." She mentioned that some of the vessel operators intentionally temper with the transponder and warned that anybody who has wilfully caused damage to the transponder, thereby rendering it inoperable will pay for the cost of damage.