Mr Kafui Bekui, Central Regional Director of Fisheries, have expressed concern over reports of intimidation and assault of canoe fishermen by the crew of fishing trawlers, on the high seas.
He said reports reaching his office indicate that the trawlers were not only invading the 30-meter off-zone regulation, away from the canoes, but also destroying their fishing gears "with impunity" and attack them with objects like broken bottles.
Mr Bekui expressed these sentiments at a meeting between the fishermen and the sector Minister, Mrs Gladys Asmah, to deliberate on ways to improve the fishing industry, in Cape Coast.
He also echoed concern about the continued use of lights, and other unauthorized methods for fishing.
He however, commended fishermen in the region, for producing 64, 403 metric tons of fish last year, representing 28 per cent of the total fish catch in the country.
He was happy that the overall best fisherman and the runners-up emerged from the region.
Mrs Asmah echoed government plans to construct 14 fishing harbours, with six in the region, at Elmina, Winneba, Mumford, Senya Breku, Gomoa-Fetteh and Moree, and a cold storage facility at Gomoa-Nyanyano.
She also stressed that the ban on the use of light for fishing was still in force, and cautioned that her Ministry would not renew the licenses of trawlers whose activities hindered canoe fishermen.
Mrs Asmah urged the fishermen to be vigilant and report their colleagues who flout the law.
The fishermen had earlier complained about the trawlers during an open forum.