Fish Smoking in Ghana: a Review Sakyi Essien Michael1-3, Jia Cai1-3*, Ampofo-Yeboah Akwasi4, Aglago Adele4
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13(3): 013-024 (2019) Journal of FisheriesSciences.com E-ISSN 1307-234X © 2019 www.fisheriessciences.com Review Article Fish Smoking in Ghana: A Review Sakyi Essien Michael1-3, Jia Cai1-3*, Ampofo-Yeboah Akwasi4, Aglago Adele4 1College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China 2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory, Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Animals, Zhanjiang, China 3Key Laboratory of Control for Diseases of Aquatic Animals, Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Zhanjiang, China 4Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, University for Development Studies, Tamale-Ghana Received: 10.07.2019 / Accepted: 25.07.2019 / Published online: 01.08.2019 Abstract: Ghana’s fisheries sector comprises 485 fish species. The fish industry contributes to the nation’s economy annually representing 4.5 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and twelve (12) % contributions to agriculture. There are several fish processing methods in Ghana such as smoking, salting, frying, sun-drying, freezing, and fermentation. Smoking is one of the common ways of preserving fish in large quantities. Wet hot smoking and dry hot smoking are the two forms of fish smoking which consist of three stages of smoking fish namely; cooking stage, drying stage and smoking stage. Predominately, the fish smoking industry is mainly dominated by women and young girls. Fish processing activities are done around and along the coastal waters and river banks. The technologies used in fish smoking in Ghana are improved types of conventional fish smoking ovens, chorkor smokers, oil drums and acceptance of upgraded smoking techniques. Usually, the fish species smoked are catfish, herring, mackerel, anchovy, and tuna. The smoked fish are stored in empty baskets line with brown papers and as well covered with brown papers. Women involved engaged in fish smoking face some challenges such as lack of formal education, unavailability of credits, low capital and prone to respiratory diseases. Also, the smoked fish are prone to microbial hazards and insect pest infestation. Moisture, food nutrient, pH and temperature affect growth in microorganisms in food (smoked fish). Fish smoking plays a vital role in poverty alleviation as women, and young girls depend on fisheries directly and indirectly for their livelihoods. Significantly, fish smoking reduce post-harvest losses. Also, few interventions have shown that fish smoking in Ghana has potential in improving the fisheries sector although there is limited summarized information regarding fish smoking in Ghana. The purpose of this review is to compile relevant information about the nature of fish smoking industry in Ghana. Keywords: Fisheries; Technologies; Smoking; Processing; Microorganisms; Ghana *Correspondence to: Jia Cai, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Huguang Yan East, Zhanjiang 524088, Guangdong Province, China, Tel: +86-759 2383507; E-mail: [email protected] 13 Journal of FisheriesSciences.com Sakyi et al., 13(3): 013-024 (2019) Journal abbreviation: J FisheriesSciences.com Introduction regarding fish smoking in Ghana. The essence of this review is to compile and reveal the influencing factors and the advantages and Fish is the best source of proteins and vitamins provides disadvantages of fish smoking in Ghana. the omega-3-fatty acids in oily fish which gives brain function, reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and osteoporosis An overview of Ghana’s fisheries sector (Clover, 2005). Fish contain the necessary essential amino acids, In Ghana, the fishing industry mainly consists of the marine mainly lysine, methionine, and tryptophan that are lacking in plant sector, the inland (freshwater) sector and coastal lagoons. In 2013, proteins (Akinwumi and Adegbehingbe, 2015). Fish, a perishable about 2,98,000 tonnes made up total capture fisheries production, food material that deteriorates soon after harvest at high ambient inland fisheries comprises of 24% (90,000 tonnes) mostly based on temperature (Aberoumand, 2010), therefore it needs instant Lake Volta, the largest human-made lake in Africa (FAO, 2017). preservation. In Ghana, the fisheries sector contains a diverse and vital range Fish preservations are done using these methods including; of fishing activities, extending from subsistence to semi-industrial freezing, salting, sun-drying, oven-drying, fermentation and and to industrial fisheries. Usually, rivers, lakes, coastal lagoons, smoking (Asiedu and Sanni, 2002; Clucas and Ward, 1996). shallow seas and offshore waters are where fish are harvested Traditionally, women in coastal towns, villages, along the banks (FAO, 2017). However, marine fishing, lagoon fishing, lake Volta, of the rivers and on the shores of Lake Volta predominately other freshwater fisheries, aquaculture, and imports of fish are the practice fish smoking and fish processing is the primary economic six different sources of domestic fish supply while the industrial, activity of women in fish communities (Essuman, 1992). Smoking semi-industrial and artisanal sub-sectors are the primary fishing is the dominant preservation method in Ghana (Orraca- Tetteh & operations in Ghana (FAO, 2017). Nyanteng, 1971; Plahar et al., 1995:1996:1997). Fish smoking Ghana’s waters contain a total of 485 fish species, out of which processes take the form of wet hot smoking and dry hot smoking; 347 represent 72% and belong to 82 families caught in the coastal depending on the nature of the fish to be smoked, its uses and waters (FAO, 2017). Also, 17 cephalopod species and 25 crustacean storage period (Alhassan et al., 2014). Clucas, (1982) reported species are found in 5 families and 15 families respectively in that wet and dry hot smoking processes require a temperature Ghana’s territorial waters (FAO, 2017). Ghana’s waters harbours to cook the fish. Also, smoking of fish preserved by drying and an extensive variety of fish species such as pelagic and demersal depositing natural wood smoke chemicals like PHENOLS and fisheries resources which make up to the national catch; grunt, sea aldehydes; have the suppress the activities and avoid the growth bream, tilapia, herring, mackerel, Cape hake, barracuda and tuna of other micro-organisms on the flesh of the fish (Garrow and consist of the marine catch profile (FAO, 2017). Also, the small- James, 1994). Also, smoked fish is tastier and gives longer shelf- scale sector provides 70 percent of the total fish production, and in life (Maddison et al., 1993). the fishery value chain, 60 percent of the women gain employment Research had shown that, smoking of fish gives not only (FAO, 2017). The gross domestic product (GDP) in the fisheries the fish a needed taste and smell but provide lengthier shelf-life sector contributes 4.5 percent; agriculture contributes 12 percent through its antibacterial and its oxidative effects decreasing pH, GDP and workforce 10 percent GDP. imparting coloration of the fish as well as augmenting the drying An overview of Ghana’s smoking fishery sector process, and acting as an adversary to spoilage agents (Abolagba In Ghana, the smoked fishery sector plays a major role in and Melle, 2008; Olokor et al., 2007; Sengor et al., 2004) and terms of employment creation, income generation, food security chemical degenerative alterations (Sowumi, 2007). According to and foreign exchange earnings helping in the sustainability of the Akinwumi, (2014) smoking of fish has been a healthier inventive Ghanaian economy (Asiedu et al., 2018). About seventy percent method of fish processing in relations to retaining protein value (70%) – eighty percent (80%) of the fish smoked are locally and a decrease in the moisture content. consumed (Asiedu et al., 2018). In Ghana, the fish species that In many developing communities, smoked fish are supplied and are usually processed by smoking include catfish (Clarias spp), consumed without being mindful of the microbial contamination herring (Sardinella aurita, Sardinella moderensis), mackerel from the environment (Akinwumi and Adegbehingbe, 2015). (Scomber spp), anchovy (Anchoa guineensis) and tuna (Thunnus Pathogen derived from human infections are transmitted to fish albacores, Katsuwonus pelamis) (FAO, 2017) but inland species and the aquatic environment are quite common depending on are Chrysichthys spp, Tilapia spp, Lates spp, Synodontis spp, the season, patients “contact with fish and related environment, Hydrocynus spp, Cyprinus carpio and marine species include dietary habits and the immune system status of the exposed Sphyraena spp, Caranx spp, Penaeus spp as cited in Asiedu et individual (Akoachere et al., 2009; Novotny et al., 2004). al., (2018). Microbial contamination may cause an infection that may lead to The production of smoked fish in tonnes exported to Europe disease; environmental stresses might upset the stability between increased from 2013 to 2015 but decrease in 2016 with an average the potential pathogens and their hosts (Iqbal et al., 2012). of 19.1 (Eurostat) as shown in Figure 1. In 2007-2016, exported Notably, many interventions have been made by researchers smoked fish to Europe and dry weight of the smoked fish to Europe regarding the importance and benefits of fish smoking in Ghana indicate an increased trend of 129.023 tonnes and decreased (Kagan, 1969: 1970; Nerquaye-Tetteh, 1989; Anon, 2007). trend of 27.447 tonnes with an average of 79.024 tonnes and an However, there is difficulty in assessing any summarised literature increased trend of 29.4 tonnes and decreased trend of 12.7 tonnes 14 Journal of FisheriesSciences.com Sakyi et al., 13(3): 013-024 (2019) Journal abbreviation: J FisheriesSciences.com with an average of 20.2 respectively (Eurostat) as illustrated in 35 y r Figures 2a and 2b. d ( 30 h ) s s fi e d n e Materials and Methods n 25 k o o t , m e s Smoked fish technologies in Ghana o 20 d p r e t u r E o 15 o In Ghana, fish smoking is one of the most widely used p t x t e h f g traditional fish processing methods employed to preserve the o i 10 e y t w vast quantities of fish landed in the season of glut.