Level 7 - Habitat: A specific combination of physical and energy characteristics that creates a suitable place for colonization or use by biota
Level 8 - Biotope: The characteristic biology associated with a specific habitat
1.10.2 Methodology for assessment of condition of coastal and marine habitats
Based on the recommendations from the ICFG Biodiversity Threats Assessment report CRC, 2010, Coastal Wetlands in Ghana Armah, 1993, Environmental Sensitivity Map for Coastal
Areas of Ghana 2004 and experiences of DOFREDO team members, a comprehensive list of the top 20 coastal sites and habitats found in the Western Region of Ghana was generated Table
1. Each of these sites was characterized by its ecological diversity and uniqueness, current and possible anthropogenic impacts, economic importance, and its geographical representation.
Based on cumulative points gained for each of these categories, the sites were ranked.
From the generated matrix, sites which fell within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis areas and ecosystems that have a considerable degree of research were not selected. The final 10
coastalmarine areas Table 2 were selected to represent critical habitats found in the Western region of Ghana. Based on the CoastalMarine Ecological Classification Standard, each of these
critical areas was classified to Level 4. There was not much information on physical structures to classify further to Level 7, although a considerable amount of data was generated for Level 8,
i.e., biological associations.
It is of paramount interest to protect the integrity and structure of these habitats for sustainability. Management of these habitats is deemed crucial in the light of the recent discovery of gas and oil
and the expected outburstgrowth in socio-economic activities. To ensure that coastal resources managers are not bereft with the requisite scientific knowhow for the management of these
critical habitats, field studies were carried out to provide current information on their status. The field study aimed at inventorizing and documenting the biodiversity of these habitats. Further,
assessing the abiotic environment of these habitats was made to ascertain the fitness to support the host biodiversity. Field studies were designed to collect primary data on key indicators of the
habitats.
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Table 1. Ranking of the various coastal areas along the Western Region of Ghana low, medium, high
Rank Name
Type of ecosystem Unique
Diversity Anthropogenic
Economic benefits District
Present Future
1 Amanzule Lagoon, Estuary
Fishing Wildlife habitat Jomoro
2 Wider Cape
Three Points Beach, Estuary,
Forest, Lagoon, oil spill risk
Expansion in amenities, wildlife habitat, Fishing
Ahanta West 3 Butre
Beach, Mangrove,
Estuary, Lagoon Source of water supply, mining
Ahanta West 5 Whin
River BeachEstuary
Fishing Wildlife habitat Sekondi-
Takoradi 4 Miamia
Rocky Beach
Future supply ship docking area, rare flora and fauna, pristine environment
Ahanta West 6 Abby
Lagoon Transboundary
Wetland High
productivity Jomoro
7 Ankobra Estuary
MangroveFishingWildlife habitat Nzema East
8 Dixcove Beach
oil spill risk Fish landing site for large pelagic
Ahanta West 9 Esai
Lagoon Wildlife habitat
Sekondi- Takoradi
10 Essiama Beach
Protected area, Shorebirds Jomoro 11 Pra
Estuary FishingWildlife habitatMining
Shama 12 Ankasa
Terrestrial National
park Tourism
Ellembele 13 Domuli
Wetland mangrove forestestuary wildlife
Jomoro 14 Efasu
Depressional wetland
Freshwater lagoon Wildlife habitat Jomoro
15 Egyambra Beach
Future Harbor site Ahanta West
16 Essikado Beach
Tourism Sekondi- Takoradi
17 Essipon Beach
Tourism Sekondi- Takoradi
18 Belibangara Depressional wetland
Fishing Wildlife habitat 19 Adjoa
Beach, near
estuary erosion
erosion Shrimp fishing
Ahanta West 20 Busua
Beach Tourism
Ahanta West 24
Table 2. Selected critical habitats in the Western Region, classified using CMECS Madden et al., 2004 NameLocality
Level 1 – Ecoregion Level 2 – Regime
Level 3 – Systems Level 4 – Hydroform
Geoform Belibangara
Domunli Freshwater
influenced Estuarine system
Lagoon
Freshwater influenced
Estuarine system Lagoon
Estuary Mangrove
Amansuri Freshwater
Estuarine system Lagoon
influenced Estuary
Swamp peat forest Ankobra
Western Region of Ghana, Gulf of
Freshwater influenced
Estuarine system Estuary
Mangrove Miamia
Guinea, Marine
Near shore marine Sandy and rocky beach
Atlantic Ocean Coastal forest
Kpani-Nyila Freshwater
Estuarine system Estuary
Sandy beach with rocky outcrop Mangrove
Princestown Marine
Near shore marine Sandy and rocky beach
Coastal Forest Cape Three Points
Butre Marine
Near shore marine Rocky beach
Coastal Forest Freshwater
Estuarine system Lagoon
Sandy beach with rocky outcrops Mangrove
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2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
2.1
Water Quality
2.1.1 CTD Deployment