Fishermen in Winneba, Ghana, are sounding the alarm over the devastating impact of plastic pollution and industrial contamination on their livelihoods. Kwesi Afadzi, a 36-year-old fisherman with 20 years of experience, shared his frustration: “It’s very pathetic and a threat to our livelihoods to spend a lot of money and sleepless nights in search of fishes only to return home with a few, or an empty net.”
The indiscriminate dumping of plastic and industrial wastes, open defecation, and pollution have led to a significant decline in fish stocks, making it challenging for fishermen to make ends meet.
“The nets rather catch rubbers or plastic wastes,” Afadzi lamented.
The situation has prompted calls for urgent action from stakeholders, including the government, to address the issue.
The Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA), in partnership with Earth Journalism Network (EJN), has launched a project dubbed “Save our seas” to raise awareness and promote accountability in marine conservation.
Fishermen and community members are admitting complicity in the pollution and are calling for a ban on plastic rubbers, disposable bowls, and polythene bags.
They are also advocating for the establishment of a taskforce to tackle open defecation and waste dumping in the sea.
The impact of pollution is not limited to the fishing industry; it also affects the health and well-being of communities that consume fish from the sea. Experts warn that the pollution can lead to cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Professor Berchie Asiedu, Acting Deputy Executive Director Technical, Fisheries Commission, emphasized the importance of protecting Ghana’s marine ecosystem, citing the country’s commitment to the 30×30 global target.
The Fisheries Commission is working to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and implement a Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) to ensure sustainable management of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The situation demands collective action from all stakeholders to mitigate the effects of plastic pollution and industrial contamination on the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of those dependent on it.
