based on the work of
James M. Kapetsky (FAO Senior Fishery Resources Officer)
M.M.J. Vincke (FAO Senior Aquaculturist)
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1990
by
James M. Kapetsky
1 Background
There are large numbers of village water supplies in the three regions of Northern Ghana called dugouts and dams1. These have a largely unrealized fisheries potential. The fishery potential is unrealized for several reasons. The fundamental reason is that the inhabitants of this region are not fishermen or fish eaters by tradition. Furthermore, although fishes occur naturally in many dams and dugouts, they are not fished until just before they dry out. By this time, many of the fish originally present would have already died. The full potential of such water bodies can be realized only by continuously fishing throughout the year. Therefore, most of the fishery potential is lost when the dams or dugouts are fished only when they are about to go dry. Moreover, some dams and dugouts, those which are perennial, are never fished because villagers believe that fishing will affect the potability of the water.
Surveys of dams and dugouts in two districts in the Northern Region are illustrative of the situation2. In west Gonja district 154 village water supplies were surveyed. Of these, 71 had dams or dugouts. A similar survey in Nanumba District there were 41 water bodies among 116 villages.
The frequency distribution of numbers of inhabitants in villages that have water bodies shows that many water bodies are at small to medium-sized villages:
| Inhabitants | Villages | |
| Nanumba District | Damango District | |
| <100 | 1 | 7 |
| 100–200 | 0 | 11 |
| 200–300 | 6 | 9 |
| 300–400 | 3 | 5 |
| 400–500 | 1 | 8 |
| 500–1000 | 12 | 5 |
| 1000–5000 | 10 | 11 |
In Nanumba District about 21% of the villages with dams or dugouts have 300 or less inhabitants and in Damango there are 48% in this category. Assuming an average water body size of 1 ha and an annual yield of about 300 kg/ha, then water body fisheries could provide at least 1 to 3 kg of fish per person per year. This amount is more significant than it might first appear because it represents a local supply of fish. Most of the fish presently caught from other sources in the region does not reach the villages. It is marketed in the larger population centres or transported out of the region. If exploitation became intensive, then periodic stocking could ensure the supply, or could contribute to higher yields.
Using passive gears such as traps, hooks and lines and gill nets, would ensure that fishing would not make the water turbid in traditionally constructed water bodies. Dugouts and dams now being created incorporate filtration boxes below the dam from which water for human consumption is drawn. Livestock waters at tanks below the dam. In this scheme, the water body is fenced against animals and people have no need to enter the water. In this situation seine nets could be used in the shallow areas.
In a survey of water supplies in Nanumba District it was found that 22 of 39 dams or dugouts were infected with Guinea Worm. It is likely that many also harbour schistosomiasis. Thus, education about water-borne diseases has to be a component of fisheries development
2 Immediate Objectives
2.1 Increase the food supply at village level
2.1.1 Introduce fish to the villagers diet
2.2 Promote full use of water and aquatic resources at the
village level
2.3 Promote improved rural health by reducing water-borne
diseases
3. Phase I Activities (24 m)
This project is to be executed in two phases. The first phase is to establish the project methodology: fishing through training village adults and children and to provide base-line information for the management and development of the water bodies for fisheries. The first phase will work in a limited area, one district at most. The activities are:
3.1 Survey of dams and dugouts
3.1.1 Base-line data: surface area, permanency, fishes present, limnology, fishery potential through self-stocking and increased potential from supplemental stocking (executed directly by the Fisheries Department, or possible subcontract to IAB)
3.2 Assessment of stocking requirements
3.3 Evaluation of hatchery needs: rehabilitation and new construction
3.4 Training and promotion of fisheries
3.4.1 “commercial” fishing for village adults
3.4.2 fisheries for village school children
3.4.3 fisheries management in dugouts and dams for
Fisheries Department personnel
3.4.4 fisheries and water-borne diseases education
for villagers
4 Phase II Activities (24 m)
The second phase is to expand the fishing programme and to
provide the logistic support for it. Its activities include:
4.1 Hatchery rehabilitation
4.2 Fish seed distribution
4.3 Education
5 Outputs
The principal output is the promotion of food security, income and employment through full use of the fishery potential of dugouts and dams
6 International Staff Inputs
For the first phase the following international staff are
required:
6.1 CTO/Fisheries biologist (24 m)
6.2 Specialist in village level education (24 m)
6.3 Consultant socio-economist (3 m)
6.4 Consultant aquaculture engineer (2 m)
by
James M. Kapetsky
1 Background
Culture-based fisheries of Macrobrachium yield an average of 30 kg/ha in NE Brazil reservoirs. At least one Ghananian reservoir is said to support a Macrobrachium vollenhoveni fishery. The many reservoirs in Ghana might support similar fisheries, if a technology can be developed to culture them for stocking. The stocking and culture effort could be minimal if this prawn can reproduce in reservoirs after a single stocking. Development of a culture technique could serve a dual purpose, if this prawn can be cultured in ponds.
2 Immediate Objective
This project is phased to test the feasibility of using M. vollenhoveni in CBF and in commercial culture.
3 Activities
Synthesize life history information based on the IAB ecological studies now underway in the Volta River, on work done at the University of Ghana, and from the general scientific literature.
Estimate national and export markets for the prawn.
Undertake a field investigation of prawn fisheries and life histories in reservoirs by monitoring the catch and reproductive status of individuals. At the same time, monitor environmental conditions during which reproduction takes place.
At the same time, stock several small, unfished reservoirs that do not have prawn populations. Test fish during the prawn reproductive season.
Develop a technology for artificial reproduction
Develop a technology for grow-out
Investigate the economic feasibility of prawn CBF and culture
4 Outputs
Information, acquired step by step, on which to base the development of prawn CBF and culture
5 Inputs
Consultants in aquaculture economics and prawn culture
Contract to IAB or the University of Ghana to undertake laboratory and field investigations
by
J.M. Kapetsky and M.M.J. Vincke
1 Background
A dramatic increase in training is a fundamental building block in a framework for the development of aquaculture and culture-based fisheries in Ghana. No significant improvement in the fish farming sector can take place until Ghana has sufficient trained staff to manage development activities and to engage in pragmatic research programmes.
It is obvious from the current survey that fish farming and fisheries in small water bodies are undeveloped. Research is not always aimed at the practical problems of fish culture and there is a tendency to duplicate investigations that already have been carried out in other, nearby countries. Training and extension work are inadequate. Knowledge of management principles is spotty and the advice given to farmers is not consistent from officer to officer or from region to region.
A survey of post-graduate training of Fisheries Department officers in each of the regions shows that, while many have received training abroad in fisheries, there are few with training in aquaculture that pertains to the culture systems presently feasible in Ghana. Staff below technical officer level have had only a minimum of in-country training either in fisheries or fish culture. The lack of opportunities for training at a senior level means that there are few staff in any of the aquaculture or fishery-oriented institutions with the skills to train the large number of junior officers required for extension activities.
One of the most important activities foreseen for the Fisheries Department is the training of agriculture extension agents in fish farming who, in turn, will train the farmers. Therefore, in order to accomplish this mission, the Fisheries Department will have to gain an improved competency at all levels. Long-term training abroad of all senior officers is neither feasible nor necessary to provide the basic information required for an effective fish farming extension “message”. Rather, this can be done by one-month intensive refresher courses conducted separately for fishery officers and for technical officers. Oneweek courses could be conducted for progressive fish farmers. There is an indication that the farmers themselves would be willing to offset the costs.
The strategy of the project is to avoid a large investment in a demonstration fish farm. A demonstration farm also requires classroom and lodging facilities. Besides the cost, there are inevitable delays required for construction and for the site to become operational. In order to avert these problems, the project will employ existing facilities for demonstration, teaching and lodging. It will also rely on existing fish farms to illustrate a variety of management problems and solutions.
In this line, there will be a fish farm management activity that will work with selected private fish farmers to raise their management standards to high levels. This activity will serve a dual purpose. As indicated above, the private farms will be used for extension demonstration. Also, the farms can be used as models by bank officials in order to judge the technical merit of loan applications. Finally, the assumption with the demonstration or model farms is that success begets success.
A number of institutions have been evaluated in relation to their staff, locations and facilities. As a training site for senior officers, the University of Science and Technology (UST) at Kumasi is the first choice because of on-campus fish farming and production facilities, dormitories in which to lodge trainees and not the least, because of the relatively high density of fish farms using varied culture systems in the Ashanti Region.
For the more specialized training that is appropriate for junior officers and for progressive fish farmers, Tono and Vea are appropriate as well as UST. Tono and Vea are particularly well suited for training in fish farming in irrigation schemes, whether of culture of fishes alone, fish combined with rice in paddies, or in rotation with rice. Ponds are in relatively good shape and water supplies are adequate the year around. A beginning at integrated pig-fish farming combined with maize and tomatoes has been made at Vea. Poultry could be added. Finally, a laboratory-classroom block already exists at Vea. Nearby Bolgatanga offers possibilities for commercial lodging.
In inland fisheries the training is to be aimed at assessing the status of fishery resources and identifying the constraints on fisheries. Identification and implementation of management and development activities are to be included. Working with local institutions, such as traditinal authorities and fishermen's associations, for the collection of information and for support for management, would form another important part of the training.
2 Immediate objective
The immediate objective is to bring Fisheries Department staff to a level of training such that they can be effective in fish farming extension and in fisheries management and development.
3 Activities
3.1 Develop training curricula appropriate to fish farming systems presently used in Ghana and the levels of instruction required
3.2 Make arrangements to use existing facilities, upgrading them, where necessary
3.3 Identify and recruit national and international staff as instructors
3.4 Identify fish farms and fisheries to illustrate management problems and solutions
3.5 Execute a farm management programme for selected fish farmers
3.6 Conduct short courses for fishery officers and interested fish farmers in fish farming and for fishery officers in inland fisheries management and development
3.7 Set up training programmes for agricultural extension agents
3.8 Ensure that a training mechanism is in place that will continue to function after the termination of the project.
4 Outputs
A core of Fisheries Department staff competent to handle fish farming and inland fishery problems.
5 International Staff
5.0.1 Aquaculture trainer/CTA (18 m)
5.0.2 Consultant instructors (10 mm)
5.0.3 Inland fisheries trainer (12 m)
by
J.M. Kapetsky and M.M.J. Vincke
1 Background
Manuals and training aids are a basic for extension work. Manuals are required by the fish farmer for reference to specific problems and to understand the fundamentals of fish culture. For the same purposes they are required by the extension worker, but at a higher level of sophistication. The extension worker also requires visual aids to teach effectively. Manuals and teaching aids help to ensure that the extension “message” is appropriate and consistent for the physical and economic situation. In order to be effective, they have to be widely distributed and produced at a cost that is reasonable for the purchaser.
With simple booklets and training aids, teachers could provide a good introduction to fish farming for schoolchildren and with a manual on fish farming a teachers could have fish farming as a part of the agricultural curriculum and as a school project. By the same token, with simple training aids teachers could do a better job of promoting understanding of the exploitation of renewable natural resources.
Reference texts are needed by fishery officers involved in training, practical aquaculture development, fishery assessment, management and development.
Ghana has not yet produced any manuals that are specific for the farming systems that are presently practiced and aimed at the education of schoolchildren, agriculture extension agents, and fishery officers. A survey of regional offices has shown that there are no proper libraries of technical reports or textbooks available to the staff. Few offices regularly receive FAO aquaculture and fishery publications or similar publications and newsletters form other organizations such as ICLARM and the EEC.
Clearly the production and dissemination of manuals and booklets is integral to aquaculture development and the ready availability of texts and scientific reports is essential for both fish farming and fisheries.
2 Immediate Objective
The immediate objective is to accelerate fish farming development and to make fish farming more efficient by having manuals and visual aids to support the work of extension agents. Similarly, practical guides on net making and repair and on fishing and fish processing could be a stimulus to CBF development as well as useful for other kinds of fisheries.
3 Activities
3.1 Assess fish farming systems in Ghana and produce manuals appropriate for fish farmers, agriculture extension agents and fishery officers
3.2 Assess needs for manuals to stimulate CBF and produce these for fishery officers and for distribution in villages
3.3 Define a textbook and technical report “library package” for fishery officers and establish a package in each regional office. Likewise, define a package that would provide district fishery officers with basic reference materials
3.4 Design a booklet on aquaculture and fisheries for secondary school children. Adapt a manual on fish farming for use by secondary school teachers.
3.5 Devise a means to disseminate the booklets and manuals to fish farmers and students that is commensurate with their purchasing power.
3.6 Leave behind a mechanism and trained personnel to update and re-distribute the booklets, manuals and training aids.
3.7 International Staff
3.7.1 Aquaculture information specialist/CTA (18 m)
3.7.2 Consultant in the design of manuals and
booklets (4 m)
3.7.3 Fisheries information specialist (12 m)
by
J. M. Kapetsky and M.M.J. Vincke
1 Background
The information from a modernized, somewhat expanded fishery statistical system for inland waters and fish farming is fundamental to other development activities.
A basic problem with the existing system is that the data only partially meet the needs for resource evaluation, fishery management, and identification of technical assistance and development needs. Aquaculture is not regularly or systematically covered.
Collection of data on inland fisheries and aquaculture in Ghana is incomplete spatially. Field recorders may not have basic equipment such as scales. Sampling data are not extrapolated to estimate catches by kind of water body or by administrative unit. The various kinds of fishing and aquaculture activities are not completely covered. Where data are collected there are problems of the methodology that result in incomplete sampling and errors. Furthermore, the data receive only a superficial analysis and are archived. Field data are not properly stored for retrieval and analyses. As a result of these problems, the effort that is being directed at information is not well applied and cost-effective.
2 Immediate Objectives: Provide basic information for the following purposes:
2.1 Assessment of fishery resources
2.2 Regulation of fisheries
2.3 Economic assessment of fisheries and aquaculture
2.4 Identification of needs for technical assistance and
development activities in fisheries and aquaculture
2.5 Management and development of aquaculture and inland
fisheries
3 Activities
3.1 Establish the requirements of the Fisheries Department,
universities, the private sector, other government bodies
and international organizations for fishery and
aquaculture information
3.2 Make a frame survey of inland fisheries and of
aquaculture
3.3 Design a cost-effective, statistically modern information
system
3.4 Train staff at all levels in techniques of recording,
reporting and analyzing the data
3.5 Establish an inland fisheries and aquaculture information
unit
3.6 Equip the unit and field staff
3.7 Incorporate the Ghana Aquaculture Geographical
Information System in the overall information system.
3.8 Ensure that the statistical information system is
designed in such a way that personnel can continue to be
trained and the system as a whole can continue to
function after the project terminates
4 Outputs
The principal output is information on which to make decisions on management development priorities.
5 International Staff Inputs
5.1 Statistician/CTO (24 m)
5.2 Consultant in micro-computerization of fishery data (3m)
by
James M. Kapetsky
1 Background
The background for this activity has been given in Field Technical Report 1, section 3.2. There are a number of justifications for the activity. First, in relation to the existing fishery, the changes in salinity brought about by dredging the sandbar at the mouth of the Volta River will affect the distribution of the clam and, in turn, its fishery. As the fishery is locally a very productive one that can yield two to three times as much meat weight as fin fish fisheries, any intervention by the Fisheries Department is worthwhile. Secondly, if the clam is established in the Kpong Head Pond and not being fished, there may be a good opportunity for the development of a fishery. Thirdly, if the clam can be established in reservoirs and if it produces well in them, there may be an opportunity for further fisheries development.
2 Immediate Objective
The immediate objective is to assemble and synthesize information on the distribution and fishery of the clam to serve as the basis for a development project to follow.
3 Activities
3.1 Assemble and synthesize the information on the life history, ecology, distribution and fisheries for the clam in Ghana
3.2 As above, but request a search of ASFIS by the FAO Fisheries Department for literature on the clam outside of Ghana
3.3 Make a field trip of about two weeks duration to establish the following:
4 Output
The main output is a project proposal for development and management of clam fisheries
5 Inputs
by
J.M. Kapetsky and M.M.J. Vincke
1 Background
Coastal lagoons warrant attention for a number of reasons. Among types of water bodies in Ghana, lagoons, in total about 17,000 ha, are among the most extensive after Lake Volta and swamps. Lagoons appear to be the most heavily exploited type of system and many of them are probably overexploited.
Lagoons are productive systems. Lagoon fisheries, on average, provide 1.5 times as much yield per unit of area as do tropical reservoirs and about 2.8 times as much as river-floodplains (Kapetsky, 1984). Catch from Ghanian lagoons could be increased in two ways: regulation of fishing, or by increasing the productivity of the lagoon system. The latter, although not uncomplicated, is probably the more easily achieved and, if properly executed, could lead to the former.
A method of increasing fishery productivity, acadjas (brush parks), is already practiced in West African lagoons. Lagoons with acadjas have much higher yields than those without them. These have reached well over one ton/ha in Benin and Togo. However, experience has shown that acadjas must be well accepted by the fishing communities, or unrest among the people and eventual destruction will result. Supply of wood can be a problem. In cote d'Ivoire bamboo, especially planted for the purpose, is being used.
The mission believes that, despite the difficulty of development and management, it is worthwhile to investigate the potential for brush park fisheries in Ghanaian lagoons.
2 Immediate Objective
The immediate objective is to determine the feasibility of brush park fisheries in Ghanaian lagoons and to estimate the benefits that could accrue from their development.
3 Outputs
The output is that the feasibility of brush park fisheries would be determined. A side benefit is that lagoon fisheries and the status of lagoon fishery resources would be better known that at present. This could provide the basis for management even if brush parks do not prove to be feasible. Further, the additional information about the lagoons would also provide a better foundation for the development of aquaculture.
4 Activities
Two lines of investigation are necessary. The first is to anticipate the social problems that could arise from the introduction of brush parks and to estimate the economic benefits. The other investigation is to determine the feasibility for brush parks by locating the lagoons most apt in terms of ecological conditions, exploitation of resources and in relation to the supply of materials.
5 Inputs
Socio-economist (3 m)
Fish culturist (3 m)
Much of the ecological investigation could be carried out by contract to University of Cape Coast, the University of Ghana or IAB. Likewise, much of the socio-economic work could be undertaken locally. The expatriate consultants would assist with the planning and ensure the quality of the analyses.
6 Reference
Kapetsky, J. M.
1984
Coastal lagoon fisheries around the world: Some perspectives
on fishery yields, and other comparative fishery
characteristics
Stud. Rev. GFCM, 61 (Vol. 1: 97 – 140.
by
J. M. Kapetsky and M.M.J. Vincke
1 Background
The background for this activity is in Field Technical Report 1, Section 3.2.1.
The installed capacity of the eight main salt producing companies in Ghana is about 219 000 tons of salt per year.
Salt is obtained by solar evaporation of seawater at a salinity, in open water, of 35–37 ppt.
Saltworks are generally built within the tidal flats behind the mangrove zone. The typical saltworks consist of a series of ponds and a seawater intake. The production process starts with the entry of seawater into the first reservoir at about 35 ppt. This reservoir would occupy from 7 to 15% of the total area.
Seawater is transferred from the first reservoir to a series of 3 to 9 evaporation ponds. As many as six transfers are made through the evaporation ponds. Brine is transferred as it becomes progressively more salty, from 60 to 150 ppt. Brine is transferred to a reservoir or serving pond and finally to the crystallization ponds (or pans) where salt is then harvested.
Water circulation in the saltworks is by gravity or by pumping.
Solar salt ponds can be used for extensive aquaculture. Fish are trapped at the entrance as the pond fills. Desirable species are retained and introduced to the pond, or fish can be stocked from other sources to increase densities. With very little or perhaps no modification, the first reservoirs of the saltworks can be ready-made ponds for farming of mullets or euryhaline tilapia. Some of the latter are able to live at salinities as high as 40 ppt. Alternatively, the first reservoirs could be used for the indigenous shrimp, Penaeus notialis, or introduced P. japonicus and/or P. monodon. The potential yield of shrimp in the first reservoir is about 150 kg/ha/y.
The other hypersaline ponds of the saltworks would be used for the culture of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Brine shrimp eggs are used as fish food by fish hobbyists, but the main market is for the food for the culture of penaeid shrimp larvae and also for Macrobrachium larval culture. The availability of a cheap source of brine shrimp could contribute importantly to the commercial feasibility of Macrobrachium vollenhoveni larval culture which is proposed as a project in Field Working Paper 13b of this report.
The ponds with a salinity between 100 and 110 ppt could be stocked with the cysts of the brine shrimp.
Ghana possess a large surface area of solar salt works some of which might be adapted for fish or brine shrimp culture.
2 Immediate Objective
The immediate objective is to determine the feasibility of extensive fish and shrimp culture in saltworks.
3 Activities
3.1 Using already available aerial photographs of the coastal area (Surveys Department) and 1: 50, 000-scale maps, make an inventory of solar salt works
3.2 Check in the scientific literature on the distribution and abundance of coastal and lagoon fishes that would be potential candidates for salt pond fish farming
3.3 Check the local demand for fishes with biological potential for culture and assess production, processing, transporting and marketing costs in relation to income. Make a similar feasibility analysis, but for brine shrimp on the international market
3.4 Visit solar salt works to discuss with owners their management practices and to familiarize them with the potential for fish and brine shrimp farming. Select those which appear to have the best combination of management and technical skills, ecological advantages and interest.
3.5 Design a pilot project for solar pond fish farming and another for brine shrimp culture.
4 Outputs
4.1 An assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of using solar salt ponds for extensive fish farming and for brine shrimp culture.
4.2 The design of a pilot investment project for salt pond fish farming and brine shrimp culture
5 Inputs
5.1 Consultant in coastal aquaculture (3 m)
5.2 Aquaculture economist (2 m)
5.3 Local consultant (aquaculturist/marine fishery biologist) (3 m)
5.4 Local economist (2 m)
by
Ulf N. Wijkstrom
1. Objective
to achieve, by 1995 the sale of 500 tons of iced, fresh tilapia at retail level in the cities of Accra-Tema; Takoradi-Sekondi; Kumasi and Tamale;
to establish, two years after project initiation, the optimum processing technology for an “improved koobi”1, and the economic viability of producing such a product for marketing in Ghana.
2. Outputs
(i) specification of type and size of insulated boxes to be used; (ii) specification of ice to tilapia ratios as a function of distance and subsequent marketing strategies; (iii) guidelines to retailers for storing, and display of fresh tilapia in ice.
3. Actions
identification of most cost effective insulated container for transport of iced tilapia;
investigation of shelf life through trial transport of iced tilapia in insulated containers, and subsequent storage of tilapia in ice in containers;
trial marketing of iced whole tilapia and tilapia fillets, direct to hotels and restaurants and through supermarkets in major urban areas to establish price levels and the size of the market;
trial processing of tilapia in order to develop an improved “koobi” product.
1 A gutted, salted and dried tilapia.
4. Inputs
Personnel: fish processing specialist & fish marketing specialist (preferably one and same person); two technicians; four labourers;
equipment: two pickups, one four-wheel drive; insulated boxes;
facilities: ice manufacturing capacity (1 ton/day); cold storage for ice and fish (30 m3) ;
funds; (a) to finance a whole-sale trade in fresh fish of two tons; (b) to provide credit to fish farmers/traders who want to invest in insulated boxes; (c) to provide credit to urban retailers who need to invest in facilities to be able to retail fresh tilapia.
