Chinese Vessel Impounded For Unregulated Fishing In Cameroon Sea
A Chinese boat, Shengha II, containing over 2.5 tons of fish was recently been impounded along the Limbe-Tiko waters by the Navy during a routine patrol exercise.
By Yanick Fonki
According to the Limbe Navy Commander, Lt Col. Sone Ngongeh, the Chinese boat was intercepted while fishing beyond the 3 nautical miles meant for artisanal fishing.
“They were fishing at 1.5 nautical miles meant for small scale fishing. Their sophisticated equipment swept all categories of fish including the fingerlings” Lt Col Sone Ngoh said.
They Navy commander also indicated that fishing with large vessels in shallow water causes environmental hazards like pollution and threatens fish population as their regenerating species are swept away.
According to the laws governing fishing in Cameroon, fishing within 3 nautical miles are meant for smaller vessels which do not pose threat to the environment and the fishing population. The Chinese fishermen who had sophisticated equipment and carryout industrial fishing, went against the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) police regulation within waters.
Local fishermen in Limbe and Tiko have on several occasions accused the Chinese fishermen of indiscriminate fishing attitudes along the sea.
“They use large vessels and nets to scrape-off everything in the sea.” Mr Apolinius, a fisherman in Limbe lamented.
“They catch everything from small tilapia to large sea fishes. Some of us have abandoned fishing because of them,” another fisherman in Tiko cried.
For his part, the Southwest Regional Delegate of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industry, Dr Walter Ndi, said it is the fourth time Chinese boats are being impounded for going against sea regulations. He said the company will have to pay 3.5 million francs cfa to the state coffers before they can resume fishing.
The Chinese in the boat were arrested and detained, meanwhile, the impounded fish were auctioned to local consumers in Tiko. The proceeds were deposited in the state treasury.
