ABSTRACT The increased need for energy self-sufficiency has caused an extensive search for various sources of energy (especially, oil and gas) in the marine environment. Globally, the magnitude of impacts of the activities on the marine environment is increasing over the years and most felt on the seafloor. The study of seafloor (benthic) organisms therefore, are vital determinants of impacts on the seafloor. This thesis sought to determine the community structure of nearshore and offshore be...
Abstract Stocking density is an important factor affecting fish production in cages. However, information related to its impact on the growth performance of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings during cage culture under the ecological conditions of the Volta Lake in Ghana is limited. Hence, healthy Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (2.12 ± 0.02 g) were randomly stocked in triplicate 8 m3 cages at densities of 50 fish/m3, 100 fish/m3 and 150 fish/m3 and fed a commercially extruded d...
ABSTRACT Traditional open sun drying method is still the predominant drying method especially for anchovy in Ghana. In this study solar tent dryer (STD) and open sun drying (OSD) methods were used to determine the flesh quality of Engraulis encrasicolus. Fresh fish samples (FFS) were dried using the two methods and the quality of dried anchovy was compared with two different traditional open sun dried samples from Tema (TOSDT) and Accra (TOSDA). It was observed that STD and OSD methods had si...
ABSTRACT Increased absorbance of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has led to the changing of the chemistry of the oceans. In addition to already existing stressors, the resultant ocean acidification poses multiple threats to marine species biodiversity and goods and services and livelihoods that depend on them. The study set out to determine possible impacts of this phenomenon on the abundance and diversity of fin and shellfish species and ichthyoplankton in the artisanal and semi-industria...
ABSTRACT Genetic characteristics of four populations of the cichlid Tilapia guineensis were studied using allozyme (starch gel) electrophoresis and early life culture performance characterization to generate information on genetic structure and characteristics of major culture performance traits during early life of the species. Samples of the fish populations were collected from three freshwater reservoirs: (i) the Volta reservoir at Kpong, (ii) the Okye-Aminsa reservoir at Akotogua and (iii...
ABSTRACT Coastal erosion is a major challenge facing coastal regions globally. It is projected to increase on regional to global scale as sea levels continue to rise. To manage the situation sustainably, coastal managers require relevant scientific information such as beach sediment and shoreline dynamics. Shoreline change measurement and simulation especially at local scale and at higher resolutions are relevant for decision making and engineering. A review of literature has brought to the ...
ABSTRACT Information on the occurrence and reproductive biology of sea turtles in Ghana is very scanty, therefore there is a need for detailed scientific studies on which their conservation and protection could be based. The present study has shown that the Olive ridley, Leatherback and Green turtles are the three main species that continue to nest on the beaches along the coast of Ghana. The Olive ridley having the highest relative abundance o f 91% at the intensive study area followed by th...
ABSTRACT Since 1970, temperature increase of over 1ºC and reductions in rainfall of approximately 20% have been recorded in Ghana. The aim of the study was to contribute to the processes of adaptation planning to climate variability through the assessment of climate vulnerability in Akwidaa, Ghana. The methodology combined empirical historical data with active community participation and local knowledge. Historical climate data from 1970 to 2012 was collected from the Ghana Meteorological Ag...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the catch trends, spatial distributions, exploitation status, and reproductive potential of the sparids – Pagrus caeruleostictus, Dentex canariensis and Dentex gibbosus, in the coastal waters of Ghana. Samples of the species were obtained from commercial catches at Tema, Elmina and Sekondi from February 2016 to July 2017. Also used were secondary data from the Fisheries Scientific Survey Department and Fridtjof Nansen cruise reports. P. caeruleostictus was ...
ABSTRACT The environmental conditions, composition of benthic macrofauna, and richness, diversity, as well as food habits and aspects of reproductive biology of fish species in the Kakum Estuary wetland (located 2 km west of Cape Coast, Ghana) were studied from July 2009 to February 2010 in an effort to broaden our knowledge of the biodiversity and ecological value of wetland ecosystems. Sampling was conducted on five pools in the wetland. Oligochaeta and Diptera (chironomid larvae) were the ...
ABSTRACT The environmental conditions, composition of benthic macrofauna, and richness, diversity, as well as food habits and aspects of reproductive biology of fish species in the Kakum Estuary wetland (located 2 km west of Cape Coast, Ghana) were studied from July 2009 to February 2010 in an effort to broaden our knowledge of the biodiversity and ecological value of wetland ecosystems. Sampling was conducted on five pools in the wetland. Oligochaeta and Diptera (chironomid larvae) were the...
ABSTRACT This study focused on heavy metals and microbial pollution assessment of the Ankobra River in Ghana and evaluated their resultant toxic effects on humans and the aquatic environment referring to water and fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Sarotherodon melanotheron and Pseudotolithus brachygnathus). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry was used for the assessment of Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, Mn, As, Hg, Co and Cr; while the Pour Plate Count Method was deployed for the study of the microbes E.col...
ABSTRACT The biology and population dynamics of the chub mackerel Scomber colias (Gmelin 1789), one of four small pelagic fish of high economic and nutritional value in Ghana waters, were studied from February 2016 to July 2017 to obtain information for management of its fishery. Total length of the fish in the artisanal landings ranged between 13.7 cm and 40.7 cm with two modal length classes. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated using the ELEFAN method were L∞ = 42.5 cm TL and ...
ABSTRACT The ribbonfish, Trichiurus lepturus and golden African snapper, Lutjanus fulgens are actively and locally exploited by commercial fishers along the coast of Ghana. To bridge the knowledge gap on these species, size composition, growth and mortality as well as aspects of reproduction were assessed. Samples were collected from major fish landing sites along the coast of Ghana from September 2018 to August 2019. ...
Run-off containing a number of chemical solutions, which include herbicides, effluents, find their ways into the water bodies with a resultant negative effects on the aquatic ecosystem. This study sought to establish the effects of herbicide widely used in eradicating aquatic weed; Dizensate glyphosate (N- phosphonomethyl glycine) on Fingerlings of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The four day static bioassay was used to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50) and the value was ...