Abobi, Seth Mensah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5538-8573 and Wolff, Matthias ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7458-983X (2020) Policy Brief 2020/2 - Sustainably managing fisheries in water reservoirs: A case from Northern Ghana. [Stakeholder Publication]

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Abstract

SUMMARY

Northern Ghana endows numerous freshwater bodies and therewith an enormous potential for inland fisheries development, which still remains largely untapped. This potential contribution is high if reservoirs are technically and purposefully designed to provide significant and sustainable fish production. However, fish production in these reservoirs is often insignificant due to failures in reservoir designs, unsustainable fishing practices, inadequate planning and policy, limited research and development. Addressing these issues requires an adequate assessment of the reservoir fisheries resources, accompanied by the implementation of better policies and management strategies. As reservoirs in the region are mainly constructed for irrigational farming, there is a need for better integration and assessment of fisheries in irrigation development and management.

This policy brief is based on a study of the three reservoirs Tono, Bontanga and Golinga in northern Ghana. We provide a complete description and analysis of the food web dynamics and fisheries productivity in our publications (see References). Moreover, we developed an empirical model to estimate the harvest potential of reservoirs in West Africa. Here, we present the main findings and derive recommendations on how to facilitate the sustainable management of the reservoirs' fisheries.

This policy brief is intended to inform stakeholders that implement and support activities that protect the aquatic environment and provide the food and nutritional needs of the rural communities. We offer our recommendations to decision-makers from Ministries (Fisheries, Agriculture), the Fisheries Commission, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, NGOs, project managers, donors, and interested fishers, farmers and researchers.

Document Type:	Stakeholder Publication
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:	Integrated Modelling > Resource Management
Related URLs:	Organisation https://dx.doi.org/10.21244/zmt.2020.003
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2025 08:45
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2025 08:45
URI:	http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5624

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