The Aborlove Nolopi community in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region is facing a severe environmental crisis as thousands of dead fish and fingerlings have been discovered floating in the Lagoon, sparking widespread panic and frustration among residents.
The community believed the mass fish deaths were caused by the use of illegal fishing methods, including chemicals and harmful substances.
The Assembly Member of the area, Simon Awadzi, said the community depends heavily on fishing, with about 98 per cent of residents relying on it for survival.
He stated that the death of fish has left many families without a source of income, threatened their livelihoods, and food security.
“The community’s reliance on the lagoon for fishing and other aquatic activities makes this crisis particularly devastating. We need authorities to intervene quickly to save the aquatic lives,” he said.
He explained that the community was outraged and demanded immediate action from the government and relevant authorities to address the crisis. He also called for urgent investigations into the cause of the fish deaths and stricter enforcement of fishing regulations to prevent future occurrences.
Mr Awadzi also appealed to the government to take immediate action to protect their livelihoods and the environment, and improve security to protect local fisherfolk from threats and intimidation from other unauthorised fishing groups, as well as take concrete steps to address the crisis to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He said the mass fish deaths have also raised concerns about potential health risks associated with consuming fish caught in the affected waters and urged that laboratory testing should be conducted to determine the cause of the fish deaths and assess any potential solutions and health risks.
Some residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency said that the government and relevant authorities must take immediate action to address the crisis and prevent further fish deaths, and urged fishing authorities to act and investigate the causes and protect the lagoon.
They said that Aborlove Nolopi Lagoon was a vital part of the community’s ecosystem, and its degradation has severe consequences for the environment and the livelihoods of residents. The residents called for stronger and stricter laws to be enforced by the government to take measures to protect the lagoon and the fish.
On their part, the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) also explained that the use of chemicals in fishing, among others, could cause the death of the fish in the lagoon.
They pledged to work together with the relevant authorities, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drugs Authority, and the community, to investigate the cause for a possible solution to restore the lagoon.
The fisherfolk were warned to prioritise their health and always practice healthier, appropriate, and better methods of fishing to avoid any punishment from the authorities.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
