Food and feeding habit of Sarotherodon melanotheron, Rüppell, 1852 (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Sakumo Lagoon, Ghana

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Review of the Distribution of Waterbirds in Two Tropical coastal Ramsar Lagoons in Ghana, West Africa

Areview of waterbirds was undertaken in two coastal Ramsar lagoons, namely the Keta and Muni Ramsar sites in Ghana, West Africa, from August 2010 to March 2012 to determine the status of diversity and abundance of key waterbired species that utilize the lagoons. A total of 20,217 of waterbirds belonging to 25 different species, 19 genera and 10 families were counted in the two lagoons. Maximum count of 19,757 contributing to 97.7% of the total counts was recorded in Keta Lagoon area while 460 contributing to 2.3% of the total count was recorded in the Muni Lagoon area. By comparison with the Save the Seashore Birds  Project-Ghana (SSBP-G), which started in 1983 and ended in 1985, a total of 53,500 of waterbirds were counted in the Keta Lagoon, an indication of a 63.1% decline in waterbirds abundance. Atotal of 24 species was recorded in the Keta Lagoon and its surrounding floodplains (H.= 0.94, J.= 0.68 and d.= 2.32), whilst the Muni Lagoon recorded a lower number of species of 12 (H. = 0.82, J. = 0.76 and d. = 1.79). The Keta Lagoon recorded higher numbers of waterbirds because the Keta Lagoon is less turbid and shallow, and, therefore, waterbirds were able to stalk and easily locate their prey as compared to the Muni Lagoon, which recorded the lowest numbers possibly due to siltation and, hence, waterbirds could not locate fish fingerlings. Generally, the diversity of waterbirds utilizing both lagoons has declined over the past 27 years as compared to the results from the SSBP-G. Public awareness programmes to highlight the importance of lagoons and waterbirds as environmental indicators is recommended. This could be achieved through education and enforcement of existing wildlife laws and international conventions. In addition, conservation initiatives governing the conservation of waterbirds by the Ghana Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission is urgently recommended

A first checklist of cetaceans of Ghana, Gulf of Guinea, and a shore-based survey of interactions with coastal fisheries. Scientific Committee document SC/51/SM35, International Whaling Commission, May 1999, Grenada

To date, six cetacean species are confirmed to occur in coastal waters off Ghana: five odontocetes Stenella clymene, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Kogia simus, Physeter macrocephalus, and Megaptera novaeangliae. A stranded humpback whale calf raised questions about breeding stock. We found no evidence for the presence of the Atlantic hump-backed dolphin Sousa teuszii ; either it has become rare or it does not occur off Ghana. Unrestrained coastal development may pose a threat for nearshore species. Regular and year-round bycatches of small cetaceans are documented in artisanal gillnet fisheries from Apam, Jamestown (Accra), Kpone and Winneba. At Apam, drift gillnet fishermen intentionally capture dolphins with sharks and tuna. Annual takes at Apam and Jamestown probably count in the low hundreds, higher than at Kpone and Winneba. Bottlenose dolphins are also known to be taken in semi-industrial purse-seines (Jamestown). Carcasses are not filleted, but hacked into small portions including bone, and retailed locally for food. This explains why beach-combing around fishing villages did not yield any findings of skeletal parts. Field research and monitoring effort should continue

The Cetaceans of Ghana, a Validated Faunal Checklist

The cetaceans of Ghana and the Gulf of Guinea have, until recently, remained unstudied. Periodical monitoring of artisanal fisheries for bycatches in seven Ghanaian artisanal fishing ports and landing sites over 1996-2004 has provided photographic and specimen evidence to validate occurrence of 18 species (17 odontocetes, 1 mysticete) in a tropical, predominantly pelagic cetacean fauna. At least nine species and subspecies had not previously been documented for Ghana (with asterisk), and four species are authenticated for the first time in the Gulf of Guinea (double asterisk), i.e. Tursiops truncatus, Stenella clymene, S. longirostris longirostris*, S. attenuata, S. frontalis, Delphinus capensis capensis*, Lagenodelphis hosei, Steno bredanensis, Grampus griseus, Peponocephala electra*, Feresa attenuata**, Globicephala macrorhynchus, Orcinus orca*, Pseudorca crassidens*, Kogia sima**, Physetermacrocephalus*, Ziphius cavirostris** and Megaptera novaeangliae . Also, the limited published information on distribution, natural history and conservation status is critically reviewed for each taxon. Indications are that most species encountered off Ghana may be widely distributed in the Gulf of Guinea, most notably the long-beaked common dolphin. The vulnerable Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii, remains unrecorded in Ghana and neighbouring nations despite apparently suitable coastal habitat. It is suggested that localized extinction may be blamed, possibly the result of accumulative bycatches and disturbance. A number of other cetacean species not yet encountered could occasionally occur in Ghana’s waters, e.g. Balaenoptera brydei, Mesoplodon densirostris, Kogia breviceps, Stenella coeruleoalba and Delphinus delphi

Determination of Trace Metals Quality of Sources of Drinking Water in Some Selected Communities in the Akuapem South District of the Eastern Region, Ghana

The study was undertaken in three communities namely Adamrobe, Aburi and Pokrom-Nsaba, all located in the Akuapim South District of the Eastern Region. These communities depend on streams, wells, and springs for their drinking water requirements. The objective of the study was to assess the trace metals quality of the drinking water sources used by the communities. Water samples from these sources (streams, wells, and springs) were analyzed over a period of twelve months for various water quality parameters including the following trace metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), & arsenic (As), following standard methods designed in APHA, AWWA, and WEF. The results of the study revealed that, most of the mean levels of trace metals registered from the water samples were below the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) recommended critical limits for drinking water standards. The low level of trace metals recorded in the water samples was due to the absence of industrial and mining activities in these communities and their environs. The high level of lead registered in ABSP was as a result of the low pH discovered in the water sample for that station. It is therefore recommended that further study be conducted to track the long term health effects of the trace metals in the drinking water sources used by the study communities. Keywords: Trace Metals Quality, Sources of Drinking Water, Selected Communities, Akuapem South District, Eastern Region, Ghana

Fisheries potential of village dams in northern Ghana

Results of a twelve-month assessment of the fisheries and aquaculture potential of small waterbodies (SWBs) in the West Gonja District of Northern Ghana are presented. The primary objectives of the project were to established whether the fisheries within the reservoir basins in the West Gonja and Nanumba Districts (Northern Region) could be enhanced and aquaculture associated with the SWBs could be viable

Pre-Impoundment Fish Stock Assessment of the Black Volta: A Contribution to Fisheries Management of Bui Reservoir in Ghana

A length-based fish stock assessment of the Black Volta River in Ghana was undertaken prior to its damming at Bui in 2011. The approach involved estimation of the population parameters and exploitation rates of dominant fish stocks using TropFish R. The targeted species were: Alestes baremoze, Hydrocynus forskalii, Hemisynodontis membranaceus and Labeo coubie. The estimated asymptotic length (L∞) ranged from 30.8 – 48.2 cm standard length (SL) with derived longevity of 11 – 27 years for the assessed species. The estimated growth coefficient (K) value ranged from 0.10 – 0.25 yr-1 which suggested slow growth rates. The estimated length at first capture (Lc50) was lower than the length at first maturity (Lm50) for all the assessed fish species which suggests the presence of recruitment overfishing within the fish stocks. The total mortality rate (Z) was relatively high ranging between 0.51 and 1.34 yr-1 suggesting that the stocks were over-exploited during the pre-impoundment period. The exploitation rate (E) for the assessed fish species were lower than the maximum exploitation rate (Emax) which indicates that the species are far from collapse. These estimates are baseline scientific information for designing a Fisheries Management Plan for the Bui reservoir. Meanwhile, alternative livelihood and employment opportunities such as cage fish culture are to be explored to reduce the fishing pressure on the reservoir

Prevalence of parasitic infections on cultured Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) In Bong County, Liberia

This study investigated the prevalence rate, relative abundance and mean intensity of par­asites infecting cultured Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. in three fish farms, Gbarnga, Warta and CARI in Bong County, Liberia. Organs from thirty fish samples were exam­ined from September 2016 to February 2017, along with water quality parameters. Results showed the occurrence of seven parasites including protozoans, monogeneans, digeneans, cestodes, hirudineans, nematodes and crustaceans which were organ specific in terms of infection. The prevalence of the parasites varied seasonally, with the highest numbers oc­curring in November-January. The low prevalence rate, relative abundance and mean in­tensity of the parasites showed no threat to fish farmers in Liberia. All the water quality parameters were at desirable levels for the culture of the fish except nitrite, which was beyond the threshold for sustainable fish culture. It is therefore concluded that although parasitic infections in the three farms in the Bong County were low, best farm management practices are essential

Assessment of the Acceptability of Sewage-cultured Fish Using Bacteriology and Social Responses at Gbalahi

This study focused on the suitability of using sewage treatment ponds at Gbalahi, a suburb of Tamale in the northern region of Ghana, to convert residual organic nutrients into quality animal protein through pisciculture. Two tilapia species O. niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. galilaeus (Linne, 1758) was evaluated and compared under identical conditions in hapas installed in five sewage treatments ponds. The microbiological enumeration showed that, total coliform bacteria were in higher levels (600-42000 cfu) than faecal coliform bacteria (64-8400 cfu) in all the ponds. The levels of faecal coliforms compared to the safe level (5000 cfu) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, showed that fish from the ponds are safe for human consumption. However many people (44% of a total of 400) rejected sewage cultured fish because of high bacterial presence which could pose health hazards. Majority (60%) of the 1000 respondents would eat fish from sewage ponds even though about 80% of those who would eat sewage cultured fish were poor. The 40% who would not eat sewage-cultured fish were the rich

Sewage Fish Culture as an Alternative to Address the Conflict between Hunters and Hunting Communities in Northern Region

The people of Tamale in the Northern region of Ghana also hunt as a recreational or traditional or hobby at weekends during the dry season. Wild animals are indiscriminately killed and this poses a threat to the wildlife populations in the country. The conflict between hunters and hunting communities, the dangers involved in communal hunting, the occasional loss of lives, the destruction of the plant cover and the burning of farms is an indication that an alternative is necessary. Sewage fish culture is one of such alternatives. Human faeces are an effective fattening diet for fish.  Sewage-fed ponds contain high levels of N, P, Ca, and K (Pacey, 1978) and can produce as high as 7-10 t/ha/yr of fish (FAO, 1994) depending on the sewage retention time (Kalbermatten et al., 1982). The use of sewage for fish culture has the potential to defray the costs of sanitation and sewage treatment processes in Tamale and other towns and cities in Ghana