ISSN: 2676-2854 (Print) 2676-2862 (Online) Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management 2 (2020) 1-11 DOI: 10.5455/jfcom.20190902060103 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta , Ghana

Benjamin Apraku Gyampoh , Goddey Atitsogbui, Kwasi Adu Obirikorang

Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana ORIGINAL ARTICLE *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Keta Lagoon is the largest coastal lagoon and the most extensive brackish waterbody in Ghana which is home to several shellfishes. The shellfish fishery of the lagoon has received very little attention and gradually slipping into a forgotten category. This study employed cost-benefit and value chain assessment methodology to assess the structure, functions and economic importance as well as identified opportunities to generate greater economic returns and incentives for increased investment into the shellfish fishery. Six (6) landing sites and 4 markets along the Keta Lagoon were covered in this study to document the important shellfishes, assess the methods and fishing gears employed as well as analyse the economic performance and competitiveness of commercially important shellfishes of the lagoon. (Pennaeus sp.), blue-swimming crab (Callinectes sp.), West African mud creeper (Tympanotonus fuscata) and whelks, (Gemophos viverratus) were found to be the main shellfishes of the lagoon, with the and blue swimming crabs being the most commercially- important. Fishers of the lagoon employ mainly nets and traps for harvesting shrimps and crabs, whilst the West African mud creepers and whelks are hand-picked. Fishermen engaged in either crab or shrimp fishery incurred significantly lower (p<0.0001) costs relative to the wholesalers and retailers involved in the two fisheries. The aggregated estimated annual costs for the crab and shrimp fishers were between 3.5 to 4.2 times lower than the total costs incurred by the wholesalers and retailers. Revenues were also significantly lower (p <0.0001) for the shellfish fishermen; estimated gross revenue being 1.5 to 2 times lower than that of the wholesalers and retailers. Prevailing weaknesses and challenges limit production but the shellfish fishery of the Keta lagoon equally has strengths and opportunities which highlight great potential and opportunities to maximize production and improve gains.

Keywords: Value Chain Analysis, Shellfish fishery, Keta Lagoon, Fishery livelihood

1. Introduction fisheries (Atindana et al., 2019). Of Ghana’s Ghana has a coastline of approximately 550 coastal , the Keta lagoon is the largest km and the fifth largest exclusive economic and has very extensive wetlands spreading zone (EEZ) in West Africa (Asare et al., 2015; up to the Volta River estuary. The lagoon is Atindana et al., 2019). It has one of the most permanently separated from the adjoining vibrant fisheries in Africa and an average annual by a sandbar formed from the deposition per capita finfish and shellfish consumption of of fluvial sediments but during spring high 27.3 kg, which is significantly higher than the tides, splashing seawater over the sandbar global average (FAO, 2016). The coastline of can carry eggs and fry into the lagoon Ghana also supports diverse aquatic ecosystems (Dankwa et al., 2004). The lagoon is very including numerous brackish waters. These species-rich compared to most of the coastal systems are mainly estuaries and lagoons that lagoons along Ghana’s shoreline and provides support thriving artisanal fin- and shellfish habitat for several fish and invertebrate species (Koranteng et al., 2000). It supports a thriving artisanal fishery that accounts for significant © 2020. J. Fish . Mgt., Department of Fisheries and Aquatic proportions of economic and dietary resources Sciences, University of Cape Coast. All rights reserved. of the human populations clustered around 2 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon it, and also provides suitable nursery habitats conditions for the improvement of the status of for fin- and shellfish to sustain the fishery small-scale fisheries largely depends on access (Dankwa et al., 2004; Addo et al., 2014). to good information for developing policies and Despite the importance of the artisanal fishery management strategies. This paper highlights to communities along the Keta Lagoon, the the economic benefits of the neglected shellfish shellfish fishery has over the years become fishery of the Keta Lagoon by presenting highly neglected and gradually slipping into information on the economic structure of the a forgotten fishery category. Years of little or fishery and its functions, distribution of costs no attention have resulted in scanty knowledge and benefits and opportunities to generate about the shellfish fishery and insufficient greater returns and incentives for increased information on the supply and marketing local and foreign direct investments into the chain (Agbekpornu et al., 2016) resulting in commercial shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon. its present state of near-abandonment of the fishery and not realizing its optimum potential. 2. Materials and Methods The major challenges faced by most artisanal fishermen in Ghana are the significant effects 2.1. Study area of seasonality on catch statistics, small profit Keta Lagoon (Figure 1) is located eastwards margins and low returns (Aheto et al., 2012). of the Volta estuary and is the largest coastal The returns accruing to artisanal fishermen are lagoon in Ghana with a total area of 30 000 ha affected by several factors including limited (Dankwa et al., 2004). It is an important habitat value addition and consequent post-harvest for many aquatic species of animals and has losses, low bargaining power and weak market been recognized as internationally important linkages (Quagrainie and Chu, 2019). Halting under the Ramsar Wetlands Convention. and reversing this current situation requires Fishing is a major source of livelihood for knowledge about what is available, how to the littoral communities along the lagoon efficiently get what is available, the structure, although other livelihood activities including functions and distribution of cost, efforts as crop farming (mainly irrigated shallot and well as the revenue and profit along the value onion farming), mat weaving and salt winning chain. These are information needed in decision from the lagoon are also common. The study making by policymakers and investors about was carried out in some major communities potential opportunities for shellfish fishery of (landing sites and markets) along the Keta the Keta Lagoon. Lagoon. The landing sites selected for the Despite their relatively smaller production study were , Keta, Woe, Tegbi, Atorkor/ output, small-scale fisheries feed into diverse Savietula, Anyanui. The markets included in and spatially extensive value chain networks this study were Denu, Anloga, Keta and Woe of supply and trade that connect products markets. These communities were purposively and consumers, adding significant value and chosen because of their active shellfish fishery. generating important levels of employment (Rosales et al., 2017). One of the greatest 2.2. Data collection obstacles to decision- and policy-making Primary data at each landing site or market concerning small-scale fisheries is the lack of were collected through interview surveys where reliable data and information about various respondents were randomly chosen. Shellfishes facets of the sector (Rosales et al., 2017). harvested at each landing site were observed, In the case of the Keta Lagoon fishery, the identified and recorded with the help of the transactions and marketing channels are likely fishermen and the Species Identification Guide to include fishers, middle-women, processors, for Fishery Purposes by FAO (Carpenter and small traders, food vendors, and direct to end- De Angelis, 2016). Further data on the various users with each channel providing some level of shellfishes sold and traded were collected and benefits and returns to the actors. Facilitating recorded at the market centres by interviewing Gyampoh et al. /Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management 2 (2020) 1-11 3

Figure 1: Map showing the Keta Lagoon and surrounding principal towns the various actors along the shellfish value Challenges/constraints and opportunities chain. Records were taken of fishing gears and available for improving gains at each node of methods employed in the capture of shellfish the chain were also recorded and documented as well as processing, packaging, storage and through the interviews. transporting techniques employed by the various actors along the nodes of the chain. The 2.3. Data analyses dominant shellfish species captured from the Qualitative data were analysed both during lagoon were prioritized and the value chains and after data collection. Qualitative analysis for these shellfishes mapped out. Information was done by organizing data into categories on on costs and revenues as well as profits and the bases of themes, concepts and similarities. losses at each node of the value chain were also Quantitative data were analysed using the calculated for the actors or players. Four main Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) nodes were identified for data collection. These version 25.0 and Microsoft Excel 2018 version. were production, processing, packaging, and Data on the expenditures, incomes and profits transport. At each node, specific data of interest of the various actors along the shellfish value were collected on: chain are presented as mean ± SD in tables and • Production: inputs in terms of the financial graphs. Normality and homoscedasticity of cost of fishing and effort. the economic data were respectively assessed • Processing: costs of processing fish for the using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Bartlett’s market whether fresh, fried, or smoked. test. One-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) • Packaging: making the processed fish ready was used to test for differences in the estimated for the market; e.g., packing, labelling, incomes among the various actors. In instances storing. • Transport: means of moving fish from where there were significant differences among the landing site to processing and/or the any of the economic variables of the packaging centres or to the consumers actors, a post hoc test was conducted using the either locally or to internationally. Tukey multiple comparisons test (Zar, 1999). 4 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon

In all instances, differences were considered US $ exchange rate reported by Bank of Ghana significant at p < 0.05. for January 2019, available at www.bog.gov.gh/ The methods, gears and techniques of economic-data/exchange-rate. operation employed for each shellfish fishery were analysed focusing on the effectiveness of 3. Results the method or gear as well as the suitability for the task for which it is employed in terms of the 3.1 Shellfishes of commercial importance of the Keta Lagoon harvesting, processing, packaging, storing and transporting techniques of the various actors. Four shellfishes of commercial importance Along each of the four nodes of the shellfish were identified in the Keta Lagoon. These were value chain, the following analysis was done. shimps (Penaeus sp.), blue-swimming crab i. The socio-economic and demographic (Callinectes sp.), West African mud creeper characteristics of the shellfishery actors. (Tympanotonus fuscata) and whelks (Gemophos ii. Supply and marketing chain for each viverratus) (Table 1). The shrimp was common species outlining the actors within each chain. and harvested at every community or landing iii. Simple analyses of benefit-cost ratio for site along the lagoon. The blue-swimming crab the prioritized species. was also common along the lagoon, harvested iv. SWOT Analysis through grouping the all-year-round and found at every landing site. various responses into similarities. Whelks are new to the Keta Lagoon in terms Total Revenue was calculated as the sum of commercialization but the commercial of total sales (quantity × unit cost) and other use is fast rising along the Anloga-Keta zone incomes, while total sales was computed by (found more at Anloga, Tegbi, Woe, Keta and multiplying the sales per day by number of Azizadzi/Dzelukope). Harvesting of the West active market or sales days. Total cost was African mud creeper was common along the assessed as the fixed cost, plus variable cost. Atorkor/Savietula-Salo zone. Profit was calculated as the total revenue less the total cost; and the profit margin was the 3.2 Structure of shellfish fishery on Keta Lagoon total revenue minus the variable cost. The benefits divided by the costs gives the Benefit– 3.2.1 Fishers (producers) Cost ratio whilst Return on Investment was All (100%) shrimp fishers encountered calculated as a ratio of the profit relative to during the survey were male natives of the cost and multiplied by 100%. Net Profit communities along the lagoon. They were Margin was calculated as a ration of the unit mainly not highly educated; highest level being profit to unit cost and multiplied by 100 to up to the Junior High School level and about express as a percentage. The Break-Even point 30% of them were not educated. More than was calculated by dividing the total fixed cost 50% of them were between the ages of 35-50 of production by the price per unit less the years and more than 50% of them have a lot of variable cost. All monetary calculations were experience, up to 20-30 years. In harvesting done using US Dollars, based on the GHS to the shrimp, the common shrimp net called

Table 1 - Commercially important shellfishes in the Keta Lagoon from January to March 2019 Shellfish Local name Scientific name Places found Shrimp Borlu Penaeus sp. Anloga, Anyanui, Atorkor/Savietula, Dzelukope, Keta, Tegbi, Woe. Blue crab Agala Callinectes sp. Anloga, Anyanui, Atorkor/Savietula, Dzelukope, Keta, Salo, Tegbi, Woe. West African mud creeper Tortorpli Tympanotonus fuscata Agortoe, Anyanui, Atorkor, Salo. Whelk Borbor Gemophos viverratus Anloga, Dzelukope, Kedzi, Keta, Tegbi, Woe. Gyampoh et al. /Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management 2 (2020) 1-11 5 “borludor” was employed. It is operated mostly within the using canoe to find other in the night and at dawn (when shrimps are locations where the water levels were low to get believed to be active, according to the fishers). enough for sales. The hand-picking, though It is an active gear and operated by hauling and environmentally friendly, was least efficient closing mechanism at the mid-water (where the since a lot of effort had to be put in to harvest wings of the net are pulled by two fishermen considerable amounts for sale. and the shrimp is trapped into a purse-like sack 3.2.2 Processors extension). On larger scales, a more modern gear locally known as “gbagbalulu” is employed. Shrimp processing was done mainly (over It is mostly used along the Kedzi-Denu zone 70%) by female indigenes. Close to 45% were and few people around the Keta-Anloga zone either with no formal education or drop-outs; use it. It is believed to have been adopted from less than 20% of the processors had education the fishers along the Sogakope zone (Tongu up to secondary level. About 30% had only district). It is a passive gear made up of nets tied up to primary education. Smoking and frying to circular rims (mouth) and with an extension were the main method of processing shrimps. (a sack at the end). Each complete gear has These actors bought the fresh shellfish either about 4 to 10 of these nets. It is operated by from the fishers, wholesalers or retailers, tying the rims to fixed poles and placing light/ processed and sold to either retailers, food bulbs on it. The shrimps are attracted to the vendors or consumers. The most common kiln light, move towards it and get trapped into the (smoking facility) used was the “gbado”, made net/sack. Though it is expensive to get, it does of either mud or cement and a metal mesh and not require much effort in operating, and it operated on fuelwood (mangrove, neem tree). does not involve the use fuel too. There was a modern kiln locally called the Crab harvesting is done by natives of “dzidedigbado” which was made of concrete. communities along the lagoon who were not The “dzidedigbado” is designed to contain more highly educated; highest level being up to the trays at a time and also to get rid of excess oil Junior High School level and about 30% of from the shellfish by collecting it in a chamber them were not educated. More than 50% of thus reducing burning and smoke. them were between the ages of 35-50 years and The crabs were sold fresh and not processed. more than half of them had a lot of experience, Fishermen would preserve harvested crabs up to 20-30 years. Crab-net (for smaller crabs) in the lagoon for days (in a mesh tied to a made of nylon and traps (for bigger crabs) made fixed pole) until they had harvested enough of woven palm or broom sticks with bait were to sell. Others also kept the crabs in a basket used in harvesting crabs in the Keta Lagoon. or container and sprinkled water on them The West African mud creeper and whelk regularly till they were purchased. Processing of fishers were mostly females; mainly mothers whelks required that the shell be broken and the who worked with their children. The fishers flesh removed after which the gut portion was were all natives of communities along the lagoon cut-off leaving the edible portion to be either and harvesting was by hand and sometimes partially boiled or fried and arranged on sticks a by-catch of the crab-traps. The fishers were before selling. Whelk processors were mostly usually not highly educated; highest level being female indigenes. No processing was done at up to the Junior High School and about 30% the time of the study for the West African mud of them were not educated. More than 50% of creeper. Preservation was by pouring the black them were between the ages of 35-50 years and mud from which they were harvested on them more than half of them had a lot of experience, once in a while and regularly watering to keep up to 20-30 years. them alive till purchased by people who came People engaged in the West African from places like Takoradi, Mankensim, Mafi- mud creeper fishery as their main source of Kumasi and Cape Coast. livelihood had to travel long distances to deep 6 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon

3.2.3 Wholesalers migrants (non-natives) from the Western Shrimp wholesalers bought directly from and Central Regions of Ghana. They were all the fishermen in bulk and sold fresh to the females, and the retailing was done at centres retailers, processors and/or big restaurants. away from the lagoon where the wholesalers This was a female-dominated group who were made their sales. more educated with more than 50% having 3.2.5 Consumers primary and secondary school education. About 35% of the shrimp wholesalers were Shrimp and crab consumers were mostly foreigners from neighbouring , , as higher income-earning households in places well as other parts of Ghana such as Sogakope, like Accra. They were usually educated and Accra, Dabala, Akatsi. It is a small actor group. in the middle-income group, according to Wholesalers bought the crabs fresh and the retailers and wholesalers. Whelk was transported to other parts of Ghana. Just consumed locally in the communities and did like the shrimp, crab wholesalers were more not yet have a commercial market like the crabs highly educated compared to the fishers. It is and shrimps. The local communities along the female-dominated; most were indigenes with Keta Lagoon did not consume the West African fewer non-indigenes (about 20%) compared mud creeper. The consumers were mostly in to the shrimp wholesalers. They sold to big the Western and Central Regions of Ghana. restaurants and retailers along the lagoon and 3.2.6 Input sellers outside the stretch of the lagoon. Unlike the crabs and shrimps, there were no These actors sold fishing input materials wholesalers for whelks. For the West African such as: nets, baskets, traps, ice-chest, bowls, mud creepers, there were a few wholesalers trays, ice-blocks, oil, thread, ropes, etc, used most of whom were non-natives from by others in their activities and operations in Takoradi, Mankensim, Mafi-Kumasi and Cape the shrimp fishery. They had a lot of influence Coast. About 85% were females. They bought on the fishery as their pricing of items affected in bulk from the fishers or few intermediaries how much other actors priced their produce/ in the community and sent to other parts of the product. country. 3.3 Economic importance of the shellfish fishery 3.2.4 Retailers The shrimps and crabs were the two Shrimp retailers bought either fresh or shellfishes currently being exploited processed from the fishers, wholesalers or commercially from the Keta Lagoon. The costs, processors and sold at the market centers. revenues and profits realised by the various More than 80% of the shrimp retailers were actors along the shellfish value chain per indigenes of communities along the lagoon; annum were calculated. The fishers engaged with a few from the Republic of Togo, Akatsi in either crab or shrimp fishery incurred and Dabala. They usually came to buy and send significantly lower (p<0.0001) costs relative to to their places in fresh form; preserved on ice. the wholesalers and retailers involved in the The retailers sold fresh or processed shrimp at two fisheries. The aggregated average annual the markets along the lagoon (Anloga, Denu, costs for the crab and shrimp fishers were from Woe, Keta) and outside (Accra, Tema, Dabala, USD 1,325 to 1,380.68. This was considerably Akatsi). The retailers were 95% females. Whelk lower than the average annual costs incurred retailers were few and 95% female indigenes. by the wholesalers (USD 4,525.09 to 5,467.29) They bought fresh whelk directly from the and the retailers (USD 5,346.31 to 5,579.79). fishers and sold to processors or fried whelk Wholesalers and retailers in the two fisheries from processors and sold to consumers either invested fairly similar amounts of money at the markets or at the road side. The West into their businesses annually. Revenues were African mud creeper retailers were mostly also significantly lower (p <0.0001) for the shellfish fishers compared to wholesalers and Gyampoh et al. /Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management 2 (2020) 1-11 7 retailers. The estimated gross revenue of the fishers were 1.5 to 2 times lower than that of the wholesalers and retailers. The significantly higher investment costs of the wholesalers and ab ab ab ab a b retailers resulted in fairly similar profit margins among all actors along both shellfish value chain. Except for the profit of the crab retailers 1,837.74±467.67 1,906.55±466.43 1,754.14±320.79 1,957.07±798.99 1,459.01±807.71 2,404.93±935.93 Profit (USD) Profit which was significantly lower than the profits b b b b realised by the shrimp retailers, there were a a no significant differences (p = 0.0704) in the profits of the actors. The details of the economic analyses for the actors in the two fisheries are 3,709.32±673.76 6,279.24±1,032.92 3,163.42±573.76 7,424.36±3,410.71 6,805.32±3,096.77 7,984.73±3,035.69 presented in Table 2 below. (USD) Revenue In terms of revenue margins among the b b b different actors, the fishers involved in the two a a b fisheries had fairly similar annual revenues ranging from USD 2,353.57 to USD 3,932.61 and USD 2,798.95 to USD 4,506.92 for the Total Cost 1,325.72±153.22 crab and shrimp fisheries respectively (Figure 1,380.68±135.51 4,525.09±856.33 5,467.29±2,670.76 5,346.31±2,368.49 5,579.79±2,309.70 2). The calculated revenues of the interviewed retailers in both fisheries were highly variable and ranged between USD 2,220.77 to USD 11,767.83 and USD 5,720.47 to USD 13,238.81 Others 903.83±101.67 865.83±98.09 509.94±96.13 563.77±90.85 289.29±82.39 335.64±127.39 for the crab and shrimp retailers respectively. The revenues of shrimp wholesalers were also highly variable among the respondents but was fairly similar among the crab wholesalers. The profit margins of all the actors in the shellfish Trap 20.09±4.78 Transport 555.19±180.86 513.82±222.28 Transport 663.98±366.29 591.02±419.71 fishery varied over narrower ranges compared to their respective revenues (Figure 2).

3.4 SWOT analysis of the shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities Costs (USD) and threats of the Keta Lagoon shellfish fishery

are presented in Table 3. The SWOT analysis Net 230.86±47.99 319.94±38.46 Preservation Packaging and 389.29±181.78 185.15±84.31 Preservation Packaging and 304.53±123.18 190.56±52.21 provided a guiding framework to identify and analyze the external and internal factors capable of impacting the shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon. External factors that could hamper the development of the shellfish fishery Canoe 204.30±18.05 182.85±15.46 Purchase 3,070.67±615.81 4,204.55±2,303.68 Purchase 4,143.26±1,919.71 4,462.99±1813.33 were explored under ‘threats’ while any external factors that the fishery could take advantage of to develop are explored under ‘opportunities’. Six main threats and five main opportunities were identified for the shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon. The ‘strengths’ section of the SWOT Fishers (N = 10) Crabs (N = 10) Shrimps Wholesalers (N = 8) Crabs (N = 8) Shrimps Retailers (N = 10) Crabs (N = 14) Shrimps

analysis explored the internal characteristics are profits and revenues forcosts, Values KetaLagoon. the from shrimp and of crab chains the value along retailers and wholesalers fishers, of activities of economic analysis 2 - Cost-benefit Table ANOVA) One-way (p<0.05; different significantly are superscript alphabet a common sharing not a column within values and ± SD, means as basis annual an on presented and estimated https://www.bog.gov.gh/economic-data/exchange-rate/ 2019 = 4.8947. Source: January for Ghana Bank of from (GHC/US$) Average - Month Rate Exchange NB: Inter-Bank of the shellfish fishery that makes it suitable for successful development. Five key strengths 8 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon

Figure 2: Variations in revenues and profits among the various actors along the crab and shrimp value chains of the Keta Lagoon fishery. Data for the boxplot are presented as minimum and maximum revenues or profits (in USD) calculated for all the respondents at each node the crab or shrimp value chain (Median lines are represented as black lines inside each bar).

Table 3 - SWOT analysis of the shellfish fishery in Keta Lagoon were identified and these included availability Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats of shellfishes throughout the year and the increasing demand for them. There were also All year Limited NGOs’ interest High cost of production information in supporting processing, ‘weaknesses’ identified for the shellfish fishery (shellfishes available on and promoting preservation, of the Keta Lagoon. The weaknesses refer to available the shellfish shellfish storage and throughout resources fishery transportation identified internal characteristics that would the year) suppress the development of a successful The prolific Lack of All year-round Poor handling, shellfish fishery on the Keta Lagoon. Limited and quick adequate availability of processing, information available on the shellfish resources breeding of scientific shellfish in the preservation the shellfish knowledge market and packaging of the Keta Lagoon was identified as a major on the (poor quality weakness in addition to four other identified biology of of product) the species characteristics. involved 4. Discussion Availability Poor Availability High cost of and cheap linkage and and support shellfish at the cost of information from extension landing site 4.1 Shellfishes of commercial importance to the Keta labour flow between services Lagoon the actors Efficient Lack of Platform for High influx Although all four shellfishes encountered gears and stable investment of fishers and in the Keta Lagoon during this study were methods of market and job competition fishing information provision considered to be of commercial importance, only the shrimp and crab were already being Increasing Lack of and Availability High cost of demand poor access and cheap cost inputs and exploited commercially with the others having for the to credit of labour maintenance potential for commercialization. According to shellfish at facilities the market (need for Decline in Agbekpornu et al (2016), the shrimp fishery (increase expansion) catch/output of the Keta lagoon has more commercial value in sales and than tilapia fishery. This is a very significant profit) assertion which must trigger higher investor interest in that fishery. Dankwa et al. (2004) and Lamptey et al. (2014) had already reported Gyampoh et al. /Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management 2 (2020) 1-11 9 that the blue-swimming crab was one of the newly introduced kiln “dzidedigbado”. Though dominant shellfishes of the lagoon. Out of it seemed more efficient (less burning of the the four shellfishes found, the shrimp and the fish), environmentally friendly (produced less blue-swimming crab were readily available at smoke) and suitable, many of the smokers were every landing site and market and were highly not using the new kiln because of its cost as patronized by both locals and outsiders. The compared to the Chorkor. Old and traditional species of shrimp found had also been reported means of packaging remained dominand; by FAO (2014) and Addo et al. (2014). All the product is packed in a bowl, ice-chest or four shellfishes were available throughout the wrapped in a sack or polythene material and year but the abundance of the shrimp and the tied in a basket or bowl. Though these may blue-swimming crab peaked during the rainy seem cheaper ways of packaging, they were not periods (April to July). This could be attributed environmentally friendly and not sustainable to spawning, reproduction and migratory FAO (2014). activities by the species which occurs during the wet season (Cummings, 1961; Sankaré, 4.3 Economic performance of shellfish fishery in Keta Lagoon 2007; Sahoo et al., 2010). However, the West African mud creeper and the whelk became According to Adzraku (2014), socio- more available during the dry season when the economic characteristics such as age, sex, water levels were low. marital status, educational background and level influence how the various actors go about 4.2 Methods and gears employed in the shellfish value their functions and roles within the value chain chain on Keta Lagoon which in turn affect the whole value chain. Generally, there has not has been much The energy intensity required in harvesting change in terms of fishing gear for the shellfish shellfish from the Keta Lagoon influences the fishery in Keta Lagoon. The blue-swimming gender structure in the fishery. It explains why crab was mainly harvested using the woven females were engaged in the hand-picking of wooden trap and sometimes net. The crab-net the West African mud creeper while the men is designed purposely to catch the bigger size were into the catching of shrimps and crabs crabs, leaving the smaller and juvenile ones with nets and traps. A secondary factor worth to grow and reproduce. This is sustainable noting is cost of the operations. The men were compared to the trap which is designed to in a position to afford nets and traps whiles the catch smaller and juvenile crabs. The common women could not. Apart from the harvesting shrimp-net with the small mesh size tended that required more manpower, majority of to harvest all sizes where it was deployed and people in other levels of the value chain, i.e., this could explain why the blue-swimming retailers, processors and wholesalers were crab were more available throughout the year females. Males hardly engaged in the post- as compared to the shrimp. The newly adopted harvest stages of the value chain. Education net for harvesting shrimp of the Lagoon; the is also a major factor that influences a fishery “Gbagbalulu” is only more efficient during (Odebiyi et al., 2013), i.e. fish production, the rainy season (the peak occurrence of the awareness on the best methods and practices, shrimp). rate of return, value addition, etc. Considering The commonest method of preservation the education background as well as the age used by the shrimp retailers and wholesalers groups of the actors in the value chain, it is was the use of ice which is consistent with understandable that the fishery was still at the the findings of Agbekpornu et al. (2016). The traditional stage and not much innovation few people who operated on large scale used was coming in for it to realize its commercial refrigeration usually because they had to buy potential. in bulk and store till market day. Most (more 4.4 Structure of shellfish fishery on the Keta Lagoon than 80%) of the processors used the common kiln “Chorkor smoker” whilst few used the The structure of specific fishery reveals a 10 Understanding the neglected shellfish fishery of the Keta Lagoon

great deal of information about its extent of the fishers (and sometimes from wholesalers) commercialization. The shrimp and crab fishery was sold between USD 11.23-12.26 in Accra of the Keta Lagoon have their value chains from and Tema; an increase of about USD 4.09 to fishers to processors, wholesalers, retailers to USD 5.11. For the blue-swimming crab, the the final consumer. This describes a full value wholesalers made more profit and return on chain which also indicates the acceptance and investment which was mainly attributed to a participation of different actors in what they further cost incurred by the retailers through believe to be economically viable. The other death of the crabs in the course of storage over two, i.e., the West African mud creeper and long periods (days) before marketing. whelk fisheries do not have the same complete set of actors as the crabs and shrimps. 4.6 Strength, weakness, opportunities and threat of shellfish fishery on Keta Lagoon Among the actors of the shellfish fishery along the Keta Lagoon, the fishers (producers) The major strength of the fishers/producers and consumers had the greatest influence is the availability of the shrimp resource all year on the fishery. The fishers landed the catch round and vast expanse of the lagoon enough (making it available thus possible for the other for exploitation throughout the year. However, actors to trade) and the consumers influenced low rainfall is the major cause of decline in through demand which affected the market their catch since spawning and reproduction pricing system. But the consumers were mainly as well as movement of the organisms was away from the places where the shellfishes were linked to the wet season (rainfall). High influx caught and they were more educated middle- of fishers into the lagoon could also result in income people. This heavily influences the pace competition and possible overexploitation of at which development of the fishery would the resource leading to its decline and low catch/ proceed. For example, when there are more output (Agbekpornu et al. 2016). According high value consumers closer to the fishery, to Adzraku (2014), “there is an unstable there would be high direct demand and this and missing market information on prices, would influence the development of the fishery. production and marketing within the Keta Municipality”. This situation has not changed 4.5 Costs and Benefits of current commercial species as most of the fishers see unstable market and actors information as one of their challenges. Also, Cost and benefit analysis of the two current there was damage of the fishing gears within a commercial species, shrimp and crab, showed short period due to storms and strong winds. that though the costs of production, and making With the exception of the fishers, wholesalers, the products ready and available for marketing retailers and processors considered high cost of were high, a higher revenue from sales resulted fish and high cost of processing, preservation, in profits both in the short and long term. The storage and transportation as major threats to fishers’ major costs were in getting fishing their business. Transportation was their biggest facilities and inputs (canoe, net) as well as repair challenge because they sent their products to and maintenance. After harvesting, they usually other regions where their consumers are. sold at the landing site without any value added One major weakness to the shellfish fishery to the catch so they did not make enough profit; of the Keta lagoon that all actors acknowledged recording the least profit margin and return on was lack of governmental support. The central investment among the actors. Agbekpornu et and local governments had demonstrated very al. (2016) and Anane-Taabeah et al. (2016) also little interest in supporting the artisanal shellfish arrived at this same conclusion that the fishers fishery of the Keta Lagoon. The shellfish fishery make the least profit among the other actors. has great potential (opportunities for all year The retailers made the most profit margin and investment, job provision for a lot of people) return on investment followed closely by the and can be developed greatly with the right wholesalers for the shrimp. 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