Overview of Marine Stock Enhancement, Restocking and Sea Ranching in Ghana

Fish stocks in Ghanaian waters are on the decline. There is therefore the need to rebuild the stocks through marine stock enhancement and restocking. Stock enhancement and restocking are the guarantee routes to revive the stock declining menace of the country. Other benefits will include sustainable employment, increase fishers income, reduce poverty, ensures food security and promote national development. Species to be used for restocking is a major problem since the biology of the existing species is poorly understood. There are certain factors that must be taken into considerations if stock enhancement and restock programmes are to be successful, namely existing fisheries management schemes, socio-economic factors, institutional capacity and aquaculture development. The potential for Ghana to create sustainable, supplemental livelihoods through restocking or stock enhancement appears promising

Ensuring food security: an analysis of the industrial smoking sector of Ghana

Abstract Background The smoked fishery sector of Ghana plays an important role in terms of food security, employment creation, income generation and foreign exchange earnings aiding sustainable development of the Ghanaian economy. Fish smoking is the leading technique of fish processing in Ghana (70–80% of local fish consumption is smoked). As fish consumers are becoming more aware of fish safety issues, it is vital to analyse developments in the smoked fishery sector of Ghana in order to ensure food safety, nutritional needs, fish food security and employment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the industrial fish smoking sector, especially, exports to the European market (Ghana’s biggest customer in terms of earnings). Also, an analysis of the various characteristics and interests of fish smoking will be conducted. Managing the fishery resources through value addition and trade will help Ghana to achieve sustainable development targets. Results Smoked fish provides food, nutrients and livelihoods to a number of Ghanaians, especially the poor. Aside from traditional fish smoking production, about 67 t of industrial smoked fish [in live weight (Euro stat Conversion Factor for smoked fish (into live weight) is 3.31)] is produced annually by smoking establishments, most of it going to Europe. The market for Ghanaian industrial smoked fish products is the African diaspora living in European countries and is worth 64 t (in live weight) valued at 80,000 EUR in 2016. The major species smoked are from inland sources (mainly Chrysichthys sp., Tilapia sp., Lates sp., Synodontis sp., Hydrocynus sp., Cyprinus carpio and Clarias sp.) and marine sources (Sphyraena sp., Caranx sp., Sardinella, herrings and Penaeus sp.). Industrial smoking establishments are supplied by approved fishing establishments selected only based on EU food safety standards, by Ghanaian Competent Authority (CA). The approved smoking establishments are supplied by just a few fishing vessels supplying marine species, and mainly rely on small-scale fisheries for their raw material. Both the plant and the Competent Authority regularly monitor all stages of the production chain, the landing sites, plant structure and processing process. Conclusions Industrial smoked fish products have high value added. It is important to support this processing industry. Generally, the smoking industry in Ghana is characterised by up to 50% capacity utilisation. Fish waste is generally sold to livestock and aquaculture feed farms. Quality requirements of smoked products not only involve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels but also Listeria, histamine (for some species) and Clostridium. Further attention and support should be given to the small and medium enterprises and processing associations trying to reach the EU PAHs threshold (2 ppm/kg) by improved methods, making traditional smoking safer and directly benefiting the Ghanaian population. Moreover, the capacity of the Ministries of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Trade and Industry, Health, Food Research Institute, Ghana Export and Promotion Authority, Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority should be built to effectively monitor processing establishments in order to produce safe smoked products for European diasporas and Ghanaians

The performance of tuna processing fishery sector to sustainable fish trade and food security in Ghana

Abstract The paper presents an analysis of the performance of the tuna processing fishery sector of Ghana in order to derive the maximum benefits for the Ghanaian economy. Interviews and document analysis were carried out with approved tuna processing firms, government institutions and statistical service of the European Union. Results showed that the Ghanaian tuna processing industry is mainly supplied with raw material coming from national vessels, both purse seiners and pole and line. This raw material is only enough to have the plants operating at 60 % of their maximum capacity. There are a total of 6, 500 people employed in the tuna fish chain. A total of 58, 000 tonnes of tuna is canned annually. The market destinations are Europe, National and Ivory Coast, ranked in a descending order according to the tonnage. In conclusion, Ghana has huge potential to increase tuna fish export and can generate more economic and social benefits, such as food security, employment, foreign exchange, income and poverty reduction to the Ghanaian economy

La vida de los pescadores importa: cuestiones sociales en la migración de la pesca en pequeña escala de Ghana

Migration is a common feature of most small-scale fisheries (SSF) across the globe. To enhance fisheries resources sustainability and management, we examined the social issues in the SSF from the perspective of fishers, Chief Fishermen, and Fisheries Technical Officers who are actively involved in SSF migration and fisheries management along the coast of Ghana. We conducted in-depth interviews in six important migrant fishers’ communities and analysed documents on the socio-economic conditions of migrant fishers, conflicts among migrant fishers, rights of migrant fishers and the role of government in managing fishers’ migration. Findings showed that the successful integration of migrant fishers in the host communities resulted in minimal conflictual incidents that are resolved through dialogue. Furthermore, both the Fisheries Technical Officers and Chief Fishermen are involved in conflict resolution depending on the nature of the dispute. Also, most migrant fishers (over 50%) have the same rights as the local fishers, though they are marginalized during the distribution of premix fuel. Migrant fishers with prominent status played key role during decision-making process in the host communities. Overall, the study showed that migrant fishers have aided in the progress of fishing technology, food security, and small-scale business in the host fishing communities. To avert any form of marginalization during the distribution of premix fuel, it is prudent for authorities to develop relevant policies that will ensure that migrant fishers receive enough fuel for their fishing activities in the host communities.La migración es una característica común de la mayoría de las pesquerías de pequeña escala (PPE) en todo el mundo. Para mejorar la sostenibilidad y la gestión de los recursos pesqueros, se examinaron los problemas sociales en las PPE desde la perspectiva de los pescadores, los Jefes de Pescadores y los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca que participan activamente en la migración y la gestión pesquera de las PPE a lo largo de la costa de Ghana. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad en seis importantes comunidades de pescadores migrantes y analizamos documentos sobre las condiciones socioeconómicas de los pescadores migrantes, los conflictos entre los pescadores migrantes, los derechos de los pescadores migrantes y el papel del gobierno en la gestión de la migración de los pescadores. Los hallazgos mostraron que la integración exitosa de los pescadores migrantes en las comunidades de acogida resultó en incidentes conflictivos mínimos que se resuelven a través del diálogo. Además, tanto los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca como los Jefes de Pescadores están involucrados en la resolución de conflictos, dependiendo de la naturaleza de la disputa. Además, la mayoría de los pescadores migrantes (más de 50%) tienen los mismos derechos que los pescadores locales, aunque son marginados durante la distribución de la premezcla de combustible. Los pescadores migrantes con un estatus destacado desempeñaron un papel clave durante el proceso de toma de decisiones en las comunidades de acogida. En general, el estudio mostró que los pescadores migrantes han ayudado en el progreso de la tecnología pesquera, la seguridad alimentaria y los negocios a pequeña escala en las comunidades pesqueras anfitrionas. Para evitar cualquier forma de marginación durante la distribución de combustible de premezcla, es prudente que las autoridades desarrollen políticas inteligentes que aseguren que los pescadores migrantes reciban suficiente combustible para sus actividades pesqueras en las comunidades de acogida

Assessing the stock status of Atlantic bumper, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Linnaeus 1766, from the coastal waters of Ghana

The main objective of this study was to examine the growth, mortality, and exploitation rate of Chloroscombrus chrysurus from the continental shelf of Ghana, West Africa between July 2018 and June 2019. This study provided results on fishery dynamics parameters to contribute to estimating the stock assessment of these fish species. Monthly length-frequency data were collected from 697 samples and analyzed using fisheries models fitted in TropFish R. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were utilized to analyze the population dynamics of these species using ELEFAN Simulating Annealing. The estimated asymptotic total length (L∞), coefficient of growth (K), and growth performance index (Φ′) was 24.9 cm, 0.84 year-1, and 2.72, respectively, with a Response surface (Rn) value of 0.79. The total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) rates C. chrysurus from the continental shelf of Ghana were 3.27 year-1, 1.31 year-1, and 1.96 year-1, respectively. The exploitation rate (E) estimated was above the optimum level of 0.5 which indicates that the species is overexploited. Based on the Emsy (0.69) value, analyses show that the exploitation rate has exceeded the sustainable limit and hence the need for proper fisheries management measures