John Darko, a lecturer in natural resources and environmental law has described the recent washing ashore of fishes and mammals at some coastal areas of Ghana as symptoms of looming marine crisis.
Speaking on The Forum, a current affairs and news analysis programme on Asaase Radio with Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Darko said he suspects oil spillage could also be a major factor.
“With the oil exploration that is going on at our seas, it is important for our government to monitor the oil companies very well, because as has been happening in the mining industries a lot of cyanide spillage happens,” he said.
Darko added: “A lot of things are happening down there that we don’t see. It is possible that oil spillage is causing it. “
He wants oil firms to be held accountable if the ongoing investigations reveal that the incident was caused by oil spillage.
Background
The dolphins and other large fishes including tuna were washed ashore in some coastal communities of Ghana during the Easter festivities.
The Fisheries Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service have begun investigations into the fish mortality which has been recorded at Axim in the Western Region, Osu in the Greater Accra Region and Keta in the Volta Region.
The dead fishes were washed ashore between Friday 2 April and Sunday 4 April 2021, officials confirmed.
In a statement on Sunday, the Fisheries Commission said it is carrying out tests at its laboratories to establish the cause of death of the fishes.
“Upon arrival at the beach the team noticed that there were dead small pelagic and demersal fishes at the shore,” the statement issued by Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, Michael Arthur-Dadzie, said.
It added: “Initial observation of the fishes showed no wound /lesions on their bodies. It is to be noted that after two to three days of death of an animal pathological signs change. Samples of the fish were collected on ice to be examined critically in the laboratory.
“Sea water 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 sea water samples collected will be analysed for physical, chemical and other biological parameters.
“The colour of the sea and temperature are normal. We assure everyone that we are working hard to ascertain the actual cause of mortality of the fish.”
Fred Dzakpata
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
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