Environmental and socioeconomic impact of cage aquaculture at Kpeve Tornu section of the Volta Lake, Ghana

Abstract

Abstract. Mensah VF, Annang TY, Ofori BD. 2018. Environmental and socioeconomic impact of cage aquaculture at Kpeve Tornu section of the Volta Lake. Bonorowo Wetlands 8: 84-95. Sufficient data on the financial viability of cage aquaculture in Ghana is limited. Little is also known about the effects of fish farming on the Volta Lake on fishing communities. This study, therefore, sought to investigate these relevant issues at Kpeve Tornu, a fishing society in Afadjato South District in the Volta Region. Laboratory analysis of physicochemical parameters suggested no significant differences between water quality parameters from four fish farms and two control locations. A cost-benefit analysis performed on five cages of volume 360 cubic meters each was 1.34 in the first production cycle. In contrast, a gross margin of 104.41 percent in the second production cycle suggests that the cage aquaculture industry in Ghana was financially viable. The cage aquaculture industry also positively impacted the livelihoods of Kpeve Tornu in regions of recruitment, poverty alleviation, trade, and food security. Cage fish farm owners did not comply fully with aquaculture rules. Aquaculture rules were effective on fingerlings and aquaculture-related chemicals producers. Still, the regulations on fish farmers needed a review because there were no definitions for intensive and semi-intensive fish farming in the aquaculture rules of Ghana.