Assessment of Critical Coastal Habitats of the Western Region, Ghana July, 2011 THE UNIVERSITY of Rhode Island Coastal GRADUATE SCHOOL Resources OF OCEANOGRAPHY Center This publication is available electronically on the Coastal Resources Center’s website at http://www.crc.uri.edu For additional information on partner activities: WorldFish: http://www.worldfishcenter.org Friends of the Nation: http://www.fonghana.org Hen Mpoano: http://www.henmpoano.org Sustainametrix: http://www.sustainametrix.com For more information on the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance project, contact: Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay Campus, 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA. Brian Crawford, Director International Programs at [email protected]; Tel: 401-874-6224; Fax: 401-874-6920. Citation: Coastal Resources Center and Friends of the Nation. (2011). Assessment of Critical Coastal Habitats of the Western Region, Ghana. Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative for the Western Region of Ghana. Narragansett, RI: Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. 132 pp.. Disclaimer: This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ghana. The contents of this report are the responsibility of the Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance (ICFG) Program and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government. Associate Cooperative Agreement No. 641-A-00-09-00036-00 for “Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance (ICFG) Program for the Western Region of Ghana,” under the Leader with Associates Award No. EPP-A-00-04-00014-00. Cover Photo: Ankrobra town, at high tide. Western Region, Ghana. Photo Credit: F. K. E. Nunoo List of contributors Dr. F. K. E. Nunoo Mr. A. K. Armah Dr. G. Wiafe Dr. E. Nyarko Dr. A. Mensah Mr. E. Lamptey Prof. P. K. Ofori-Danson Dr. K. Appeaning Addo Mr. D. K. Atsu Mr. B. O. Botwe Dr. J. K. Adomako Prof. D. K. Attuquayefio Mr. B. Y. Ofori Mr. F. O. Sekou Dr. Augustus Asamoah Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 14 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 14 1.2 Justification .................................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Biodiversity Threats in the Western Region – A Review .............................................. 16 1.4 Macro-indicators of ecological health of coastal habitats .............................................. 18 1.5 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 19 1.6 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................... 19 1.7 Fisheries ......................................................................................................................... 20 1.8 Socio-Economic Information including Traditional Knowledge ................................... 20 1.9 GIS Mapping.................................................................................................................. 21 1.10 Habitat classification scheme for the Western Region ................................................... 22 1.10.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 22 1.10.2 Methodology for assessment of condition of coastal and marine habitats ............. 23 2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 26 2.1 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 26 2.1.1 CTD Deployment .................................................................................................... 26 2.1.2 Water Sampling ...................................................................................................... 26 2.1.3 Water Analyses ....................................................................................................... 26 2.2 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................... 28 2.2.1 Rocky Shore Biota .................................................................................................. 28 2.2.2 Sandy Beach............................................................................................................ 28 2.2.3 Shorebirds Enumeration.......................................................................................... 28 2.2.4 Terrestrial Vegetation Assessment ......................................................................... 28 2.2.5 Mammals................................................................................................................. 29 2.3 Fisheries ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.4 Socio-economics including Traditional Knowledge ...................................................... 31 2.5 GIS Mapping.................................................................................................................. 32 3 CURRENT STATE OF THE SELECTED KEY CRITICAL HABITATS OF THE WESTERN REGION ................................................................................................................. 33 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 33 3.2 Belibangara..................................................................................................................... 35 3 3.2.1 Water quality........................................................................................................... 35 3.2.2 Biodiversity............................................................................................................. 36 3.2.3 Avifauna.................................................................................................................. 36 3.2.4 Fisheries .................................................................................................................. 36 3.2.5 Fish Composition .................................................................................................... 37 3.2.6 Critical Features and Conservation Significance .................................................... 37 3.3 Domunli .......................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.1 Water quality........................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Biodiversity............................................................................................................. 39 3.3.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................. 40 3.3.4 Critical Features and Conservation Significance .................................................... 41 3.4 Amansuri Main ............................................................................................................... 42 3.4.1 Water quality........................................................................................................... 42 3.4.2 Biodiversity............................................................................................................. 43 3.4.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................. 43 3.4.4 Critical Features and Conservation Significance .................................................... 44 3.5 Azulenoano (Amansuri Outlet) ...................................................................................... 45 3.5.1 Water quality........................................................................................................... 45 3.5.2 Biodiversity............................................................................................................. 46 3.5.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................. 47 3.5.4 Terrestrial ecosystems ............................................................................................. 48 3.5.5 Critical Features and Conservation Significance .................................................... 49 3.6 Ankobra Estuary............................................................................................................. 50 3.6.1 Water quality........................................................................................................... 50 3.6.2 Biodiversity............................................................................................................. 51 3.6.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................. 51 3.6.4 Terrestrial ecosystems ............................................................................................. 53 3.6.5 Critical Features and Conservation Significance .................................................... 53 3.7 Miamia ..........................................................................................................................