MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

The State of Fisheries in Ghana

Science and Fisheries Management

Najih Lazar

Senior Fisheries Advisor

USAID/Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (2015-2019) GOAL:

• To rebuild marine fisheries stocks and increase production through effective fisheries

management strategies and adoption of responsible fishing practices

• To contribute to the Government of Ghana’s fisheries policies and development

objectives, and USAID Feed the Future Initiative

• Build research and education capacity of University of Cape Coast

IMPLEMENTATION:

• The Coastal Resources Center (CRC)

• Graduate School of Oceanography

• University of Rhode Island

• leads a team of partners in Ghana (HM, FoN, SNV, CW, DAA, SS,

DQ, SSG)

Animal Source Food (ASF) from fishSource: http://www.fishingfuture.org/ Briefing paper 6

Africa has some of the highest per capita consumption of fish in the World

In Africa, highest in West Africa

Animal Source Food (ASF) from fishSource: http://www.fishingfuture.org/ Briefing paper 6

Nutritional Value of Small Pelagic Fishes

Table 1. The nutrient content of fish and other foods (per 100g)*

Fat

Group

Scientific name /common name (local name/common name) Protein (g)

Total lipid (fat; g)

Total saturated fat

(g) Total PUFA

(g) EPA (g) DHA (g) Ca (mg) Fe (mg) Zn (mg) Vitamin A

(RAE) † Notes (per 100g)

Large freshwater fish and prawn

Carp 17.83 5.60 1.08 1.431 0.238 0.114 41 1.24 1.48 9 Raw, edible Catfish 15.60 7.59 1.77 1.568 0.067 0.207 9 0.50 0.74 15 Farmed, raw, edible Tilapia 20.80 1.70 0.77 0.476 0.007 0.113 10 0.56 0.33 0 Raw, edible

Marine fish Anchovy 20.35 4.84 1.28 1.637 0.538 0.911 147 3.25 1.72 15 Raw, edible, European Herring 16.39 9.04 2.04 2.423 0.969 0.689 83 1.12 0.99 32 Raw, edible, Pacific Mackerel 18.60 13.89 3.26 3.350 0.898 1.401 12 1.63 0.63 50 Raw, edible Milkfish 20.53 6.73 1.67 1.840 51 0.32 0.82 30 Raw, edible,

Philippines Sardine 24.60 11.45 1.53 5.148 0.470 0.509 382 2.92 1.31 33 Canned in oil, drained

solids with bone

Other animal-sourced foods

Beef ground 14.30 30.00 11.29 0.696 24 1.64 3.57 0 Raw, ground, 70% lean meat 30% fat

Chicken breast 14.70 15.75 3.26 3.340 19 1.11 0.78 0 Breast tender, uncooked raw

Plant-sourced foods

Cassava 1.40 0.28 0.28 0.048 16 0.27 0.34 1 Raw

Rice 2.69 0.28 0.28 0.323 10 1.20 0.49 0 White, long-grained, regular, cooked

Kidney beans 8.67 0.09 0.09 0.278 35 2.22 0.86 0 Mature, cooked

High content >15.00 >2.000 >0.400 >0.400 >100 >3.00 >3.50 >500

RAE, retinol activity equivalents. Bold indicates high content values

Table 1. The nutrient content of fish and other foods (per 100g)*

Fat

Group

Scientific name /common name (local name/common name) Protein (g)

Total lipid (fat; g)

Total saturated fat

(g) Total PUFA

(g) EPA (g) DHA (g) Ca (mg) Fe (mg) Zn (mg) Vitamin A

(RAE) † Notes (per 100g)

Large freshwater fish and prawn

Carp 17.83 5.60 1.08 1.431 0.238 0.114 41 1.24 1.48 9 Raw, edible Catfish 15.60 7.59 1.77 1.568 0.067 0.207 9 0.50 0.74 15 Farmed, raw, edible Tilapia 20.80 1.70 0.77 0.476 0.007 0.113 10 0.56 0.33 0 Raw, edible

Marine fish Anchovy 20.35 4.84 1.28 1.637 0.538 0.911 147 3.25 1.72 15 Raw, edible, European Herring 16.39 9.04 2.04 2.423 0.969 0.689 83 1.12 0.99 32 Raw, edible, Pacific Mackerel 18.60 13.89 3.26 3.350 0.898 1.401 12 1.63 0.63 50 Raw, edible Milkfish 20.53 6.73 1.67 1.840 51 0.32 0.82 30 Raw, edible,

Philippines Sardine 24.60 11.45 1.53 5.148 0.470 0.509 382 2.92 1.31 33 Canned in oil, drained

solids with bone

Other animal-sourced foods

Beef ground 14.30 30.00 11.29 0.696 24 1.64 3.57 0 Raw, ground, 70% lean meat 30% fat

Chicken breast 14.70 15.75 3.26 3.340 19 1.11 0.78 0 Breast tender, uncooked raw

Plant-sourced foods

Cassava 1.40 0.28 0.28 0.048 16 0.27 0.34 1 Raw

Rice 2.69 0.28 0.28 0.323 10 1.20 0.49 0 White, long-grained, regular, cooked

Kidney beans 8.67 0.09 0.09 0.278 35 2.22 0.86 0 Mature, cooked

High content >15.00 >2.000 >0.400 >0.400 >100 >3.00 >3.50 >500

RAE, retinol activity equivalents. Bold indicates high content values

Table 1. The nutrient content of fish and other foods (per 100g)*

Fat

Group

Scientific name /common name (local name/common name) Protein (g)

Total lipid (fat; g)

Total saturated fat

(g) Total PUFA

(g) EPA (g) DHA (g) Ca (mg) Fe (mg) Zn (mg) Vitamin A

(RAE) † Notes (per 100g)

Large freshwater fish and prawn

Carp 17.83 5.60 1.08 1.431 0.238 0.114 41 1.24 1.48 9 Raw, edible Catfish 15.60 7.59 1.77 1.568 0.067 0.207 9 0.50 0.74 15 Farmed, raw, edible Tilapia 20.80 1.70 0.77 0.476 0.007 0.113 10 0.56 0.33 0 Raw, edible

Marine fish Anchovy 20.35 4.84 1.28 1.637 0.538 0.911 147 3.25 1.72 15 Raw, edible, European Herring 16.39 9.04 2.04 2.423 0.969 0.689 83 1.12 0.99 32 Raw, edible, Pacific Mackerel 18.60 13.89 3.26 3.350 0.898 1.401 12 1.63 0.63 50 Raw, edible Milkfish 20.53 6.73 1.67 1.840 51 0.32 0.82 30 Raw, edible,

Philippines Sardine 24.60 11.45 1.53 5.148 0.470 0.509 382 2.92 1.31 33 Canned in oil, drained

solids with bone

Other animal-sourced foods

Beef ground 14.30 30.00 11.29 0.696 24 1.64 3.57 0 Raw, ground, 70% lean meat 30% fat

Chicken breast 14.70 15.75 3.26 3.340 19 1.11 0.78 0 Breast tender, uncooked raw

Plant-sourced foods

Cassava 1.40 0.28 0.28 0.048 16 0.27 0.34 1 Raw

Rice 2.69 0.28 0.28 0.323 10 1.20 0.49 0 White, long-grained, regular, cooked

Kidney beans 8.67 0.09 0.09 0.278 35 2.22 0.86 0 Mature, cooked

High content >15.00 >2.000 >0.400 >0.400 >100 >3.00 >3.50 >500

RAE, retinol activity equivalents. Bold indicates high content values

Table 1. The nutrient content of fish and other foods (per 100g)*

Fat

Group

Scientific name /common name (local name/common name) Protein (g)

Total lipid (fat; g)

Total saturated fat

(g) Total PUFA

(g) EPA (g) DHA (g) Ca (mg) Fe (mg) Zn (mg) Vitamin A

(RAE) † Notes (per 100g)

Large freshwater fish and prawn

Carp 17.83 5.60 1.08 1.431 0.238 0.114 41 1.24 1.48 9 Raw, edible Catfish 15.60 7.59 1.77 1.568 0.067 0.207 9 0.50 0.74 15 Farmed, raw, edible Tilapia 20.80 1.70 0.77 0.476 0.007 0.113 10 0.56 0.33 0 Raw, edible

Marine fish Anchovy 20.35 4.84 1.28 1.637 0.538 0.911 147 3.25 1.72 15 Raw, edible, European Herring 16.39 9.04 2.04 2.423 0.969 0.689 83 1.12 0.99 32 Raw, edible, Pacific Mackerel 18.60 13.89 3.26 3.350 0.898 1.401 12 1.63 0.63 50 Raw, edible Milkfish 20.53 6.73 1.67 1.840 51 0.32 0.82 30 Raw, edible,

Philippines Sardine 24.60 11.45 1.53 5.148 0.470 0.509 382 2.92 1.31 33 Canned in oil, drained

solids with bone

Other animal-sourced foods

Beef ground 14.30 30.00 11.29 0.696 24 1.64 3.57 0 Raw, ground, 70% lean meat 30% fat

Chicken breast 14.70 15.75 3.26 3.340 19 1.11 0.78 0 Breast tender, uncooked raw

Plant-sourced foods

Cassava 1.40 0.28 0.28 0.048 16 0.27 0.34 1 Raw

Rice 2.69 0.28 0.28 0.323 10 1.20 0.49 0 White, long-grained, regular, cooked

Kidney beans 8.67 0.09 0.09 0.278 35 2.22 0.86 0 Mature, cooked

High content >15.00 >2.000 >0.400 >0.400 >100 >3.00 >3.50 >500

RAE, retinol activity equivalents. Bold indicates high content values

Adapted from: Kawarazuka and Béné, 2011. Public health nutrition, 14(11), 1927-1938.

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

• The marine fisheries sector is the most important source of local fish

production, delivering more than 80% of the total supply

• Over 300 different species of commercially important fish are caught from

marine sources in Ghana

• Most marine fish supply is from artisanal fishery and the most important

marine resources are small pelagics (sardinella, anchovy and mackerel)

• Gross value is over $300 million/year and the total revenues over $1 billion

• Export value over $100 million/year

• Direct jobs >200,000 and indirect jobs over 2 million

• Average consumption 23-26 kgs/capita

• A way of life for coastal communities

MARINE FISHERIES PROFILE OF GHANA

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

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20

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20

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20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

Artisanal Semi-Industrial Trawlers Tuna

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Fisheries Resource Indicator (CPUE)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

20

14

CP

UE

(Kgs

/Day

)

YEAR

Catch per unit of effort (CPUE)

Artisanal

0

10

20

30

40

50

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

20

14

CP

UE

(Kgs

/Day

)

YEAR

Catch per unit of effort (CPUE)

Semi-Industrial

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

20

14

CP

UE

(Kgs

/Day

)

YEAR

Catch per unit of effort (CPUE)

Trawlers

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

20

14

CP

UE

(Kgs

/Day

)

YEAR

Catch per unit of effort (CPUE)

Tuna

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

State of the fish stocks in Ghana (FAO)

• The Marine fisheries resources of Ghana over the last decade have been

fluctuating showing general decline in catches, revenues and mean size

of fish.

• This is an indication of heavy exploitation at all fisheries (F/Fmsy=1.46

and B/Bmsy=0.72)

• Some targeted stocks are severely overfished (Sardinella, Sea breams,

Groupers/Snappers and Cephalopods)

• Others are at full exploitation level (chub mackerel, skipjacks and

carrangids F/Fmsy=1.0)

• There are no stocks that are under-exploited

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Status of “small” pelagics stocks

STWG

Sardinella aurita(Eban, Kankama)

Engraulis encrasicolus(Amoni, Abobi)

Sardinella maderensis(Antebo, Adruku)

Scomber japonicas(Saman, Awokongula)

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Sardinellas Biology and Stock distribution:

• Can be fished from Morocco to South Africa on the Atlantic Ocean of Africa.

• Strong seasonal migratory species

• Move in schools of fish from inshore to edge of shelf.

• Prefers clear saline water with a minimum temperature below 24°C.

• Juveniles tend to stay in nursery areas inshore.

• They join adult stocks offshore when they mature.

• Feeds mainly on zooplankton, especially copepods

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Landings trends

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

-

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

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20

06

20

07

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20

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20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

Nu

mb

er o

f C

ano

esNumber of Canoes in the artisanal fishery

Effort trends

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Small pelagic fishery is seasonal

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Biomass trends (tons)

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Fishing efficiency (rate of fishing F)

Were are we ? Rebuilding targets

1997

2014

Fishery status showing overfishing and stocks overfished

1980

Tota

l we

igh

t o

f fi

sh in

th

e o

cean

Fishing mortality rate

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

• Stock of small pelagic resources in Ghana are severely overfished.

• Fishing mortality rate (removal rate) remains in excess of the sustainable level.

• If this trend continues, the stock will collapse and so will the fishery.

Status of the stock (SFMP)

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

MAN MADE ACTIVITIES

• OPEN ACCESS CAUSED OVERCAPACITY (5000 – 12,000 canoes in 20 years) and

OVEREFISHING (average net increased and input of large foreign trawlers)

• LACK OF ADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT CAUSED USE OF ILLEGAL

METHODS AND GEARS (small mesh, light fishing, Seiko, dynamite, chemicals…etc)

• LACK OF ADEQUATE INFRASTUCTURE CAUSED WASTEFUL FISHING

PRACTICES LEADING TO POST HARVEST LOSSES

ENVIRONMNETAL FACTORS

• UPWELLINGS AND UNEXPECPTED INTERACTIONS

• CLIMATE CHANGE

Causes of overexploitation

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

CONSEQUENCES

- Loss of revenues and jobs

- Increased Poverty

- Loss of food security

- Loss of healthy ecosystem

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

We can reverse this trend by implementing the National

Fisheries Management Plan

(MoFAD 2015-2019)

The implementation should be guided by:

• Maximum Sustainable Yield

• Effort control

• Legislation

• Improved fisheries information

• Improved law enforcement

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

What is the Maximum Sustainable Yield ?

Maximum growth rate

Under no harvest a wild population will grow exponentially then slow down until it reaches an equilibrium

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Yie

ld (

x 1

00

0 t

on

s)

Fishing Effort (Exp: Number of vessels or number of days fished...etc)

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

An International management target

MSY

Emsy

fMSY

MSY

9095Revenues

Fishing Effort

Current fishing effort12930

Cost

Subsidy

Artisanal Canoe Fisheries of Ghana (Open Access)

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

- Implement the laws governing licensing

provisions of the Fisheries Act

- Moratorium on new licenses for artisanal

fisheries (no more canoes)

- Reduce fishing effort for industrial

trawlers by 50%

- Improve fisheries data collection system

- Implement closed season for all fisheries

Effort control

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Legislation that Influence Fisheries

• Fisheries Act 625 (2002)

• Fisheries Regulations L.I. 1968 (2010)

• Fisheries Amendment Act 880 (2014)

• National Environmental Act 490 (1994)

• Endangered species Act (Wildlife & Forestry 571)

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Improved information system

• Scientific and Technical Working Group needs to be

formalized

• Fisheries Scientific and Survey Division needs more

staff and more capacity

• Decentralize flow of fisheries information

• Training and capacity building

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Improved Law enforcement

• Training and capacity building

• Logistical support

• Coordination with FEU

• Improve transparency

SUMMARY

• Fisheries sector is a significant socio-economic driver

• Many fish stocks are overfished

• NFMP (2015-2019) was approved and needs full force implementation

• Science-based fisheries management needs to guide implementation

• Improve legal framework and strengthen science and monitoring institutions

• Invest in post-harvest techniques, infrastructure and market strategies

MOFAD

Fisheries

Commission

Thank you