F. K. E. Nunoo

University of Ghana | Legon · Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences

This study investigated the nutritional, colour and sensory quality of smoked and irradiated Atlantic chub mackerel. Smoking significantly decreased the moisture but increased the protein contents. The total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) while the monounsaturated fatty a...

Human activities in coastal lagoons over several decades have had a significant impact on their ecology and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. Although there are several management approaches to mitigate the problem, they are unable to link human needs and activities with changes in the state of the environment. This research provides th...

Harmful fisheries subsidies authored by Sumaila U.R. et al.

The quality of three marine fish species smoked with a gas smoker (Abuesi Gas Fish Smoker) and a fuelwood smoker (Chorkor Smoker) were analyzed. The aim was to evaluate the nutritional profile and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in smoked fish from these smokers. The three fish species were the yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares, the...

The small pelagic fishery contributes substantially to Ghana's fish production and plays important roles in food and nutritional security. However, the resource is under serious threat due to destructive fishing practices, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), overcapacity of fishing fleets, population growth and climate change. This p...

The concentration of seven heavy metals in water samples was analyzed along the southwest coast of Ghana in the wet and dry seasons using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Some physicochemical properties of the water samples were also determined to assess the quality of the water. The ranges of metal concentration in water in the wet season were...

Marine biota are redistributing at a rapid pace in response to climate change and shifting seascapes. While changes in fish populations and community structure threaten the sustainability of fisheries, our capacity to adapt by tracking and projecting marine species remains a challenge due to data discontinuities in biological observations, lack of...

Anthropogenic factors that negatively impact reef fishes can include changes in life history patterns of fisheries‐target species. Understanding these impacts on growth and population age structure is essential in the management of exploited populations of fishes. This is the first study to directly compare age and growth for a major fisheries spec...

Marine biota are redistributing at a rapid pace in response to climate change and shifting seascapes. While changes in fish populations and community structure threaten the sustainability of fisheries, our capacity to adapt by tracking and projecting marine species remains a challenge due to data discontinuities in biological observations, lack of...

The most reliable way of monitoring fisheries performance is by a standardized reporting of relevant data by well-trained observers. The Fisheries Enforcement Unit (FEU) of Ghana has trained about 200 observers for deployment on Ghanaian flagged trawlers to curb illegalities committed during fishing expeditions and also to collect data that cannot...

The concentrations of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish smoked using the traditional Chorkor, the improved Cabin and Abuesi gas fish smoker (AGFS) kilns were investigated. Fresh mackerel and barracuda were smoked using LPG gas and two firewood species and the PAH levels were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometr...

Marine biota is redistributing at a rapid pace in response to climate change and shifting seascapes. While changes in fish populations and community structure threaten the sustainability of fisheries, our capacity to adapt by tracking and projecting marine species remains a challenge due to data discontinuities in biological observations, lack of d...

Two sister species of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus and T. capensis) are described and intensively harvested in East Atlantic waters. To address long‐standing uncertainties as to their respective geographical ranges, overlap, and intraspecific population structure this study combined genetic (mtDNA and microsatellite) analysis and targeted sa...

The high demand for inland fish in the domestic market makes it an important subsector in the Ghanaian fisheries industry. This, however, poses a challenge for the sustainable management of the inland fishery due to its open-access nature. The present study was conducted at an important inland community along the Volta Lake (Yeji) to identify the k...

Lake Bosumtwi is one of the six meteoritic lakes in the world and enlisted among the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Current limnologic evidence indicates changing physical and chemical lake conditions that affect ecosystem functions. The cycles of overturn, where anoxic and nutrient rich bottom waters seasonally mix with surface waters, have...

Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, is a hardy marine baitfish with established rearing techniques in ponds and static pools, but there is little information about the use of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for growing killifish.The current trial investigated the effects of stocking density on growth and survival of young killifish in RAS. Yo...

The ichthyofaunal diversity and limnology of Kpong and Oyun reservoirs located in Ghana and Nigeria respectively were studied with the main aim of gathering useful information to support the development, management and sustainable use of their respective fisheries to enhance the socio-economic status of riparian communities. Experimental fishing wi...

Following the declining stocks of Sardinella aurita within the coastal waters of Ghana, this study aimed at examining some population parameters of Sardinella aurita as a guide for managing this important stock sustainably. Length-frequency data of 717 samples were obtained from June, 2014 to January 2015 and measured for total length with the resu...

p>Following the declining stocks of Sardinella aurita within the coastal waters of Ghana, this study aimed at examining some population parameters of Sardinella aurita as a guide for managing this important stock sustainably. Length-frequency data of 717 samples were obtained from June, 2014 to January 2015 and measured for total length with the re...

Fish is the most preferred and widely consumed animal protein in Ghana, with annual per capita consumption estimated at 26 kg compared with the global average of 20 kg. The fisheries sector of Ghana provides livelihood support to 2.4 million people and contribute 1.5% to the nation’s gross domestic product. Recent increase in fish production is att...

Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) was carried out to evaluate maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the recruitment status for three commercially important fish species, particularly, Brachydeuterus auritus, Scomber japonicus, and Engraulis encrasicolus in response to the alarming rate of decline in annual catches. For this purpose, length frequency...

Population parameters for Red Pandora, Pagellus bellottii (Steindachner, 1882) from the eastern coastline of Ghana, using length-frequency data from June 2014 to January 2015 were assessed. A total of 440 samples of Pagellus bellottii were measured for standard length and analyzed with FiSAT II. The asymptotic length (L ∞) and growth rate (K) were...

The status of marine biodiversity in the Eastern Central Atlantic (ECA), especially of coastal and pelagic fishes, is of concern owing to a number of threats including overharvesting, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change combined with inadequate policy responses, legislation, and enforcement. This study provides the first comprehensive docum...

1. The status of marine biodiversity in the Eastern Central Atlantic (ECA), especially of coastal and pelagic fishes, is of concern owing to a number of threats including overharvesting, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change combined with inadequate policy responses, legislation, and enforcement. 2. This study provides the first comprehensive...

Some vital population parameters of the bigeye grunt, Brachydeuterus auritus (Valenciennes, 1831), within Ghana's coastal waters were evaluated based on monthly pooled length-frequency data from June 2014 to January 2015 using the FiSAT Tool II. The estimated growth parameters from 1675 samples were: asymptotic length (L∞) = 16.28 cm standard lengt...

Population parameters (growth, mortality and exploitation rates) and the fishing regime of Scomber japonicus along the eastern coastline of Ghana were assessed using FiSAT II software for samples collected from August, 2014 to January 2015. The asymptotic length (L∞), growth rate (K) and length at first maturity (Lm 50) were 26.78 cm (standard leng...

The chlorophyll a concentration and water level of the Black Volta near the Bui dam were studied in relation to fish production as measured by catch per unit effort (CPUE) between February 2011 and December 2012. The primary objective was to develop a simple linear regression model for predicting CPUE levels. The mean estimated CPUE for 2011 and 20...

In 2013, Ghana attained 24% decline in poverty, portraying the materialization of the MDG 1. However, traces of poverty appears to be prevalent among coastal fishing communities in Ghana which has the propensity to limit the achievement of SDGs, particularly goals 1 and 14 in Ghana.

The incidence of ocean acidification chained to already existing stressors like overfishing and IUU will fasten the already declining rate of landed fish stocks, eventually retrogressing the actualization of SDG goals.

A baseline survey was carried out at four beaches along Ghana's Accra-Tema coastline over a period of sixteen weeks to determine beach quality, seawater quality and the perception of beach users towards littering. A total of 18,241 items of marine debris which weighed 297.59 kg were collected. Plastic materials were the dominant debris, accounting...

The inadequate supply of tilapia fingerling is a major limitation to cage culture development in Ghana. Lake-based hapa systems are very efficient in nursing fingerlings although the process can be tricky due to inherent effects of stocking densities and environmental factors. This study aimed at assessing the growth, survival and profitability of...

The population dynamics of Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758), from catches landed along the eastern coastline of Ghana, was evaluated based on monthly length-frequency data from July, 2014 to January, 2015. The growth parameters were estimated as; asymptotic length (L∞) = 11.03 cm standard length, growth rate (K) = 0.58 per year, growth perfo...

About 5 million people depend on fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea (De Graaf and Garibaldi, 2014; BNP, 2009). The fisheries sector serves as source of food, income, employment, promotes rural development and boosts government revenues through fisheries agreements and taxes in the Gulf of Guinea. However, the fisheries sector is marginalized and vuln...

Beach seine is known to be biologically and ecologically destructive. Over the years there have been increased concerns from fishery managers and stakeholders in West Africa and beyond to reduce this destruction of fish resources by the gear. Total bans for periods in the year or the use of a bigger mesh size (25 mm) at the cod end have been invest...

The fisheries of the Black Volta near the Bui dam in Ghana were studied during the pre- and post-impoundment periods between February 2011 and December 2012. The primary objective was to assess the ecological impact of the dam on the fisheries. During the survey, a sampling unit was considered as a fishers’ catch per canoe per day. A three-level st...

The fisheries of the Black Volta near the Bui dam in Ghana were studied during the pre-and post-impoundment periods between February 2011 and December 2012. The primary objective was to assess the ecological impact of the dam on the fisheries. During the survey, a sampling unit was considered as a fishers' catch per canoe per day. A three-level str...

Sustaining fishery resources is crucial to the survival and wealth of artisanal fishers in Ghana. The artisanal fisheries sector of Ghana provides food, employment, livelihood support and socio-economic benefits to the Ghanaian economy. Fishery resources of Ghana are under stress from population pressure, increasing demand of fish and fishery produ...

Ghana has a long fishing tradition, including industrial fishing. After many of the countries where Ghanaian fleets were actively fishing declared an Exclusive Economic Zone in the 1980s, the distant-water fleet of Ghana returned to its home waters, precipitating a collapse of some local stocks. While official catches reported to the FAO document t...

The present study uses an established catch reconstruction approach (Zeller et al. 2007) to estimate total marine fisheries catches for Ghana for the period 1950–2010 to derive a historic baseline and evaluate the overall magnitude of under-reporting.

Fishing is integrated into the culture of fishers in many coastal West African nations; and they together with dependants usually rely on it for a livelihood. However, most fishing communities are characterised by high poverty incidence that is thought to drive unsustainable exploitation of the resource. Socio-economic information on the livelihood...

Ghana was reputed to be a fishing nation in the past. The collapse of its industrial distant water fleet, mainly induced by the fact that many of the countries where Ghanaian fleets were venturing declared an EEZ in the 1980s, led the industrial fleet to over-exploit fish stocks in home waters. While official data reported to the Food and Agricultu...

Tilapia is a delicacy and of economic importance among freshwater capture fisheries. Some of these tilapia species are Oreochromis niloticus and Sarotherodon galilaeus. O. niloticus has better growth rate in fresh water culture than other tilapine species such as the S. galilaeus . However, due to pollution risk, sewage water might not support the...

Most statistical information on fish catch in Ghana and that of many other African countries are deficient in supporting effective fisheries management. Fish catches were examined between January 2009 and December 2010, to enhance the management of small-scale fisheries of Ghana. The methods employed were: Fish Catch Assessment (FCA) and documents...

The production of the common commercially Sciaenids species, Pseudotolithus senegalensis off Benin nearshore waters, has been decreasing since 1994, and increasingly more small-sized fishes are regularly harvested, while very little information exist about the species’ population structure and life history. Therefore, population structure, probabil...

Microbiological quality analyses were conducted on processed anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) collected from processing houses and local retail markets in Accra and Tema to assess their quality. A total of approximately 500 g each of smoked and sun-dried E. encrasicolus and smoked S. aurita were randomly col...