‘Hen Mpoano’ calls for focus on clam fisheries

A non-governmental organization (NGO) with focus on fisheries resources, environmental and coastal management, Hen Mpoano, has called on the government to urgently pay more attention to the survival of clam fisheries in the country.

The Director of the NGO, Mr Kofi Agbogah, who made the call, said clam fisheries alone rakes in about $4 million a year, and that the sector employs more than 2,000 people in the country. He expressed the worry that in spite of the critical contribution of clam fisheries to the country’s food security and economy in general, the government, over the years, has not paid any attention to the sector.

Speaking at a handing over of a clam processing shed and inauguration of co-management unit for clam fishers, processors and traders at Kponkpo in Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Agbogah said clam fisheries are too critical to be ignored by the government. He also expressed concern that aside the clam fisheries which has been ignored by state authorities, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, as well as the Fisheries Commission have ignored estuary and lagoon fisheries.

“Lagoon and estuary fisheries generally don’t count in our fisheries statistics,” he noted, saying that the sector “is too important to be ignored because this clam fisheries alone will generate over $4 million a year in this sector.”

 “So, if $4 million is going directly into the pockets of fishermen and fisherwomen, clam harvesters and processors, it is something that you have to pay attention to,” he added.

Mr. Agbogah pointed that there are so many estuaries and lagoons in the country which when properly managed, could serve as sources of livelihood for the people who live by them, citing Bosomtwi, Ankobra Estuary, Densu Estuary, Pra Estuary, Ada Estuary, and Princess Town as examples. He noted that many lagoons in the country has been destroyed due to poor management and governance, adding that “once you can show that these estuaries are very important, people will begin to protect them to enhance the livelihoods of communities that are living around them.”

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Ghana, Ms Diana Acconcia, said the European Union (EU) supported the construction of the clam processing shed in order to enhance the work of clam fishers at Kponkpo, particularly the women. She said clam farming was part of a larger project that the EU was financing, both in the marine and inland fisheries in the country.

“The fisheries sector plays a crucial role in Ghana’s food security and economic development,” she noted, adding that “within the fisheries sector, clam has a special place.”

Ms Acconcia, however, pointed out that the clam fisheries faces many challenges due to the “absence of effective cooperation among the different interests in the region, regulation and enforcement,” saying that “one way to address these challenges is the application of co-management principles.”

She said the fishing grounds for the clams has dwindled from 100km from the pre-dam era to a narrow stretch of 10 km today because of the development of sand bars at the estuary, coupled with overharvesting. The EU Ambassador further intimated: “By having an effective co-management unit, the clam industry can work to resolve conflicts and ensure clam fisheries are a sustainable source of income.”

Touching on the co-management policy, Mr Agbogah said the policy is an effective approach to enhancing community participation in decision making and adherence to rules and regulations, adding that it provided opportunities for fisheries management options that were precautionary, adaptive and flexible. The government, this year, has approved a Fisheries Co-management Policy to guide how the fisheries resources of the country are managed, both marine and inland including lagoons and estuaries.