Anchor Institution for the Initiative in Ghana Algae Blooms

4. Challenges, Constraints and Measures Adopted

4.1 Anchor Institution for the Initiative in Ghana

As mentioned in the executive summary of this report, it was not clear at the onset of the Initiative where it was to be anchored “institutionally” within the Government of Ghana. This issue has been addressed through the planned creation of an Advisory Council for April 2010 that will be chaired by the Western Region’s Coordinating Executive. This Advisory Council will include the Regional Directors of the principle technical services associated with the Initiative Fisheries, Environmental Protection Agency, and Wildlife Division as well as key people from the private and civil society sectors. The role of the Council will be to guide the development and pilot-regional scale implementation of integrated policies, plans, and governance scenarios for the fisheries and coastal areas of the Western Region.

4.2 Algae Blooms

A commonly known algae, Enteromorpha, has been known to have annual blooms in the coastal waters of the Western Region for the past 40 years. Due to the filamentous nature of this algae, it prohibits artisanal fishing with nets. In past years, the blooms have not lasted more than one month. This year, the bloom continued from late December 2009 until April of 2010 in the two most western districts of the Region—Jomoro and Ellembelle. This algae has been sufficiently studied by Ghanaian researchers, but only to the border region. Hence, the true origins and cause of the algae bloom are not yet known. In addition, there has been no attempt to address this issue with authorities of the Ivory Coast as the algae drifts eastward from across the border. CRC has been instrumental in raising the alarm with the Regional Government and the appropriate Ministry officials, notably within the EPA, MOFA, and Foreign Affairs the latter through the Western Region government. CRC has also catalyzed the GC-LME program into action by making contacts with Ivorian authorities and researchers and through planning of a study trip to the Ivory Coast to assess the situation and propose possible solutions. This trip is proposed for late May of 2010 and CRC will request approval for participation.

4.3 Assessing Catch and Trade Issues in Fisheries