Climate Change and the fish population; the effects of plastics on the fish population

By Fosuaa Akua Winnifred

Photo credit: Dorothy Quansah

Time past, some Ghanaian fisher folks could  predict weather changes using traditional methods, such as putting their feet in the sand and observing the clouds to forecast the weather changes. Today, applying such traditional methods are gradually proving to be obsolete in the face of a rapidly changing climate. 

According to world resource institute, Ghana per capita consumption of fish is 22 kg per year which is equivalent to 15 per cent of protein derived from fish.

Statistics from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indi­cate that approximately 43.5 million people work directly in the sector, with 10 million people benefiting from employment in the sector.

Locally, Ghana’s fisheries sector is one of the key sectors supporting the country’s economic development, food security and supporting local livelihoods.

However, in 2020, fishing in Ghana contribut­ed close to GH¢1.6 billion or about $ 263.2 million to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) thus according to FAO report in 2022.

Despite these contributing factors to the economy, the fisher folks believes the changes in our weather patterns such is really having a toll on our fishing industry.

Nii Laryea, a canoe owner said as fishermen, they were also confronted with the issue of pollution due to plastics that sometimes are collected by the fishing nets from the sea floor.

“Sometimes we fetch more plastics in our net than fish whenever we cast our net into the sea,” he said.

Adding that fishing as a trade had provided them with income in the past but presently, the story had changed as he had to contend with limited catch anytime he goes to the shore.