Author(s): Berchie Asiedu, Gloria Annor Baah, Prince Baah Annor, Francis Kofi Ewusie Nunoo and Pierre Failler

Abstract: 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 key activities carried out on the Lake, examine how sustainable these activities are and finally assesse their impact on the harvested fish stocks. Sixty (60) fisher folks were selected from three communities in the Yeji fishing enclave and interviewed using a stratified sampling technique. Additionally, data on Ghana’s inland fish catch including that from the Volta Lake was obtained from FAO dataset and Fisheries Commission, Ghana and computed. Findings of the study showed that two-thirds (67%) of major fishing activities carried out on Lake Volta are unsustainable. These include the use of unapproved fishing nets, use of mesh size below the approved size of 2.5 cm, absence of off-day fishing and open-access regime. However, none of the fishers practised light fishing. Trend analysis also revealed that the Lake Volta accounts for about 80%-90% of inland fish production. There has been a decline in the quantity of harvested fish stock in the last decade (an average of 7%). The study noted that the gradual reduction in fish catch is largely attributed to the unsustainable fishing practices carried out on the Lake. The study recommended that co-management approach should be adopted to regulate and monitor inland fishery resources as well as enforcement of the fisheries regulations. Additionally, a national fisheries management plan should be drawn up for the inland fisheries subsector similar to that pertaining for the marine fisheries subsector.

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