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 Lagoon, 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 fishing methods and fishing gears employed as well as analyse the economic performance and competitiveness of commercially important shellfishes of the lagoon. Shrimp (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 shrimps 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 lagoons, 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 sea 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 fish 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 Coast. 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 Anloga, 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