The Fisheries Ministry has stated that it is investigating the cause of the deaths of tons of fish which washed ashore at the Osu Castle beach in Accra.
According to the Ministry, a team dispatched to the site has picked up the necessary samples to help with investigations. Initial observation of the fishes showed no wound/lesions on their bodies. Samples of the fish have been collected on ice to be examined critically in the laboratory, the Ministry said.
The Fisheries Ministry made this known in a statement following the fish mortalities sighted at the Osu Castle Beach.
According to the statement, seawater samples have also been collected at the beach in the Korle Klottey District in the Greater Accra Region.
“Examinations will be carried out on the fish gills and other histological examinations will equally be conducted to ascertain any pathological cause. The seawater samples collected will be analyzed for physical, chemical and other biological parameters.”
The Ministry further assured that “we are working hard to ascertain the actual cause of mortality of the fish.”
Fish mortalities along shores of beaches
Tons of fish were found along the shores of the Osu Castle beach on Friday, April 2, 2021. This attracted many residents, some of whom picked them up either for consumption or for sale.
In Keta in the Volta Region, plenty dead tuna also washed ashore on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Similarly, some 60 dead dolphins were sighted at the shores of Axim-Bewire in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.
At Axim-Bewire, all 60 mammals said to be melon-headed whales have gone missing from the shore. It is believed the people who took them are going to process them for consumption since they attract very high price in the market.
Giving accounts of the happening, an eye witness indicated that the colour of the sea has changed. Reports also indicated that the sea creatures may have been poisoned in their natural habitat.
“I saw more of the dolphins close to the seashore and I think more of them would be washed ashore today and tomorrow.
“The dolphins are so many that they have changed the colour of the seawater in the area.”
The cause of death of these sea creatures has not been established. In view of this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cautioning the general public to desist from consuming such products.
Meanwhile, the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Fisheries Commission have commenced investigations to ascertain the facts leading to the death of the fish species.
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