Government has come under severe criticism from fishermen in the Sekondi area, who say their livelihood is being threatened by the constant harassment of a naval Task-force seeking to enforce regulations governing the fisheries industry. The fishermen, who went on a protest in Sekondi on Friday, say they will vote against the NDC after their homes were raided by the Navy. The angry fishermen from Sekondi were joined by over 500 fishmongers and their counterparts from Shama and Abuesi, many of whom have been victims of the Task-force vicious raid. The Task-force, attempting to enforce the Legislative Instrument that bans the use of light-fishing, and other illegal fishing methods, has been confiscating generators used to power the fishing lights. According to the Navy, the law prohibits a generator within a two kilometre radius from any shore or river. But the Fishermen say it is not always the case that every fisherman who owns a generator is practising light-fishing since according to them, the generators are used for other purposes. Presenting their petition to the STMA Chief Executive, they asked Government to explain why it appears to be concentrating on the section of the law on light-fishing, whilst users of monofilament and multifilament set nets have had their seized nets returned to them although it is illegal to use such nets. Fishmongers, mainly women, say the use of brute force by the Navy is against their human rights and threatens their livelihood as they work hard to cater for their families and give their children the best of education. Joseph Eshun, a local fisherman who led the demonstrators to the offices of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, said the Naval Task-force has misconstrued the law. “We are challenging that the fisheries Regulations 2002 (Act 625) subsection 88, [because it] does not mention generator. It talks about explosives, noxious substances and poison. So they are quoting this part of the law to seize generators by going to various houses and kiosks, break the doors and pick generators. Which for us is against the law” Mr. Eshun lamented. The fishermen have asked Government to rethink the approach used to regulate the fishing industry; else it will suffer the consequences in the 2012 general elections. The STMA Chief Executive, Capt. Anthony Kudjoe (Rtd), who was receiving such complaints for the second time, assured the fishermen that their petition will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities. He however condemned the Navy’s actions. “The Navy has a responsibility to execute the law. The difficulty is the extent of use of force. Reports indicate that it is a little bit highhanded and we have engaged them to slow down. You can make the arrest but without molestation, beating and kicking. Those are not part of the orders. As for the law, it has to be applied” he noted. In a related development, a photographer at Abuesi, one of the fishing communities in the Shama District, who was spotted capturing one of the Naval Task-force’s violent raids on his cell phone, has been beaten up by members of the Task Force. The fishermen have vowed to retaliate in the Navy’s next attempt to carry out such raids. Meanwhile, the Sekondi Naval Command has so far remained silent on these issues.