Urgent Letter for Action Against Illegal Depletion of Fish Stocks in Victoria by Chinese Fishermen Working With Corrupt Cameroon Politicians

Republic of Cameroon Republique du Cameroun
Peace – Work – Fatherland

Paix – Travail - Patrie
Paramount Chieftaincy of Chefferie Superieure de
Limbe Limbe


Royal Traditional Council
Of the Paramount Chief
Appointed by His Late Majesty
Ferguson Bille Manga Williams
Officer of the Order of Valor
Conseil des Notables

Chief’s Palace,
Market Lane, Down Beach
Limbe

Saturday,14th June 2008


To All Elites and Chiefs of Fako,
Chief S.M.L.Endeley,
Chief Ephraim Inoni,
Mr Mafany Musonge
Mr Njoh Litumbe
Mr GBL Mofoke
Chief David Molinge
Chief Etina Monono,
Chief Samuel Ekum,
Mme Dorothy Njeuma,
Prof. Ndiva Kofele Kale,
Justice Eyole Monono
Mme Rachel Lyonga
Mme Lifaka,
Mr Goddy Membwange,
Mr Meoto Njie,
Mr Henry Njalla Quan,
Mr Samuel Lifanda etc
Mr Humphrey Monono
Mr. Daniel Matute,
Mr Mbella Moki Charles etc.

Sirs/Madames,

Open Letter in Fakonet to Fako Elites.
Protein Starvation of 100,000 people in Limbe, The Result Of Chinese Non Sustainable Fishing Practices Which Have Left Us Without Fish


1. How can we live by the sea and we have no fish? From time immemorial Fako has benefited from fresh and smoked fish bonga, barracuda and mololo which we used to eat our plantains and kwakoko. Is this going to end because of Chinese fishing trawlers and Mr Dima Gabriel of FINI Industries?


2. Following the death of Chief Ferguson Bille Manga Williams, the Paramount Chief, the Traditional Council which has been managing the traditional affairs of Limbe, pending the appointment of a new chief wishes to appeal to all persons of goodwill to save Limbe from the effects of Chinese fishing trawlers which have imposed protein starvation on this famous and important Cameroonian town. A calamity has befallen the people of Limbe and we, the members of the Council of the late Paramount Chief, are crying out to the Fako Elites to take action to save the population from this untenable situation.


3. A few months ago, Chinese fishing trawlers begun fishing in Limbe coastal waters and since then the 100,000 people of the sub-division who depend on fish as a major source of protein have been suffering completely from near total protein starvation.
4. Complaints from the population were taken to the Government and the Minster of Fisheries and Animal Industries banned twin trawling and compelled the FINI enterprises whose license is being exploited by the Chinese to move away from Limbe. Unfortunately, this was only a temporary situation as the Chinese are back and seem to have disregarded the ministerial order. Do Cameroonian ministers have no power? Why are the Chinese still hovering around when they have been asked to leave.?


5. The local fishermen of mixed Cameroonian and foreign background now catch little or no fish for the following reasons:


6. The twin trawling techniques used by the Chinese by which they attach a net to two trawlers and sweep the entire ocean, empties and catches all fish from the coastal waters is banned by international conventions.


7. The Chinese net mesh width is very small and violates Cameroonian- fishing regulations and also catches everything in its path destroying fish of all sizes and ages in a non-sustainable manner.


8. The Chinese in violation of fishing regulations for trawlers come too close to coastal waters and carry away the nets of local fishermen in their more powerful nets.


9. The Chinese also fish in mangrove swamps and creeks the nursery beds of fish and in a few years time our fishing beds shall be destroyed by these non sustainable techniques by which they catch a lot of fish now only to destroy the fishing beds for the future by their non sustainable methods.


10. Only a small quantity of fish caught by the Chinese is sold to Limbe canoes the rest is exported out of Cameroon by the trawlers at a profitable rate to themselves.
11. As a result of the practices above we are now suffering or shall suffer from the following consequences:


12. Total protein starvation for the lower and middle income classes in Limbe and environs a population of 100,000 people.


13. Cameroonians shall abandon the now profitless fishing trade particularly as nets purchased after a struggle by poor fishermen are being destroyed by trawlers fishing to close to costal waters in violation of fishing regulations and without compensation for such destroyed nets being paid.


14. Foreign fishermen of Benin , Togolese, Nigerian and Ghanaian origin who sometimes invest 20million to equip a single large boat or “awashaa” shall migrate to other countries by driving away with their canoes, further diminishing our local fish supply. The migration has already begun.


15. The indigenous communities of Wovia, Botaland, Bakingili, Batoke and Bimbia, all staunch supporters of the CPDM, who have always depended on fishing, shall be ruined and are now ruined almost completely.


16. Disempowerment of 1000 women in Limbe and environs who are involved in fish smoking.


17. The halt of the supply of smoked fish, strongkanda and other varieties which are carried to the western province, the center and south, the north and Chad from Limbe (Just as well as from other fishing ports)


18. Destruction of endangered species like Dolphins and Marine Turtles by the banned method of twin trawling.


19. Acceleration of the destruction of our fishing beds by the non-sustainable methods the Chinese have introduced into Cameroonian fishing. After each catch the Chinese throw away very small fishes they have caught.


20. The authorities put in place by government in Limbe for the control of fishing have been powerless to exercise their administrative duties because mobile phone calls from their administrative hierarchy have terrified them into inactivity and silence as powerful political, administrative and financial barons are behind the illegalities practiced by the Chinese. These persons are involved in leasing fishing licenses to the Chinese or are friends of the leasers. Chinese diplomatic pressure has apparently been brought to play in this matter and Cameroonian officials eager not to annoy the Chinese whose aid program is effective have engaged in a conspiracy of silence as mass protein starvation was imposed on their own people.


21. Acts of violence between the Chinese and local fishermen have increased as fights attacks and beatings have been recorded. We fear this could affect Cameroonian and Chinese relations if this source of conflict is not resolved.


22. . What do we now request of the government and the state? What do we want? We humbly request that the following measures should be considered by government:
23. The authorities should control the mesh width of Chinese nets.


24. Violators of regulations be dealt with in accordance with the laws in force by Fisheries and “Marine Marchand” who should not be disturbed by mobile phone calls from the corrupt hierarchy.


25. The Chinese practice of twin trawling should be banned.


26. The Chinese should maintain the distance from coastal waters and the continental shelf required by Cameroonian regulations.


27. They should pay for all nets they destroy.


28. They should sell their fish in Limbe and other Cameroonian towns so as to arrest protein starvation we are now experiencing rather than export this fish.


29. A ban on fish exports should be made to alleviate hunger until proper controls have been instituted to assure that Cameroonians have no shortage of fish.


30. Chinese trawlers have shown that they are not respecters of Cameroonian law and need to be handled with iron hands.


31. Corrupt officials whom they have compromised, and who have blocked the regulation of Chinese fishing should be dealt with in accordance with administrative practice.


32. The Council wishes to thank all persons and NGO’s who have so far made an effort to sensitise the authorities about this very serious problem. We hope that the Chinese who have shown they are good friends of Cameroon shall co-operate and respect our laws.


33. How can we live by the sea and we have no fish?

We remain, Faithfully Yours,
Members of the Council
Mr. Moki Monono: Secretary. 94430211,
Chief Emmanuel Matute Mbene: Quarter Head 99955819.
Chief Lisuke George Nganje: Quarter Head 77494691
Chief Shalman Mokumu: Quarter Head 74950063
Mr. George Burnley. Quarter Head 77494691
Mr. Duse Anthony: Quarter Head 77072838
Mr. Sammy Rhoom: Notable 99947726