The Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have successfully organized the maiden edition of the Conference on Fisheries and Coastal Environment, in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island (USA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD). The event was supported with funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the USAID/UCC Fisheries Project and the USAID/GHANA Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP). The three-day Conference, held from 25th to 27th September, 2017 brought together scientists from within and outside Ghana, to deliberate on the myriad issues confronting the fisheries sector and the coastal environment at large. The scientific sessions were held on the first two days. The outcome was a draft communique to be submitted to the Government of Ghana to feed into polices for a sustained management of the country’s fisheries and coastal resources. The climax of the conference was a grand closing ceremony with a broader stakeholder attendance. In attendance were the Senior Minister, Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo, the Vice-chancellor of UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, the paramount chief of the Elmina traditional area, Nana Kojo Konduah (VI), the USAID/GHANA Missions Director, Steven Hendricks, the Chief of Party to the SFMP and representative of the University of Rhode Island, Maurice Knight, and the Deputy Minister, MoFAD. Fishermen, fishmongers and processors from all four coastal regions of the country were well represented at the all-important event. Notable among issues in the communique, as presented by the Director of the Centre for Coastal Management, Prof. Denis Aheto, were the need for Ghana to acquire a research vessel to enhance research and quality offshore fisheries data and issues on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He also commented on the engagement of chiefs and other local authorities in the sustainable management of fisheries and coastal resources through a co-management approach. In their submissions of solidarity messages, all representatives from the four coastal regions made pronouncements on the illegal fishing methods used by fishers within their respective regions and affirmed their commitment to support government in the fight against illegal activities within the fisheries sector. In a brief remark, the USAID/GHANA Missions Director highlighted on boosting vulnerable communities, combating child labour and trafficking. He emphasized that protecting Ghana’s marine fisheries will serve a two-fold purpose to rebuild the fishing industry and prevent loss of livelihoods for coastal dwellers. In the stead of the H.E., the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Senior Minister, Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo delivered a distinctive keynote address to prevent, eradicate and deter illegal fishing practices, which he referred to as “galamsey of the sea”, likening it to the illegal mining menace being battled by the government at present. In addition, the Senior Minister emphasized on the significant contribution of the fisheries industry to the economy of Ghana with 4% GDP, supply of 60% of Ghana’s protein requirement and providing livelihood for about 2 million Ghanaians. He urged all fish workers, academicians, NGOs and stakeholders, to help combat the menace of illegal fishing rampant in our waters and admonished the fishers to comply with the fisheries laws or suffer the full punishment when they falter. The Senior Minister further pledged the full support of his office to help rebuild the dwindling fish stocks and urged researchers and students within the sector as well as fishers, to channel their resources and efforts to finding ways to protect the sector, in order to prevent it from total collapse. His speech did not end without a plea to all chiefs in the coastal communities to help in the fight against illegal fishing practices. The event was used to launch the Fisheries and Aquaculture Society of Ghana (FASoG). An interim governing committee and patrons for the society were out doored. Nana Kojo Kondua (VI) closed the event, sharing with stakeholders his efforts at dealing with the menace and called on other chiefs to join in the fight. Source: Centre for Coastal Mangement University of Cape Coast.

The Central Regional branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry is seeking collaboration with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the areas of research, consultancy and training. According to the Chamber, the collaboration would facilitate and help harness the abundant natural resources of the Central Region into business ventures. The Regional Chairman of the Chamber, Mr. Anthony Pokoo-Aikins, made this known when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, at his office. He noted that the Chamber would ensure that the region gets its fair share of the One-District ,One-Factory policy from the government. Unlike the Central region, he indicated that other regions were developing at a faster pace and attributed the snail’s pace of development in the region to “ Perhaps, we have not made available large tract of lands across our 30 districts to attract such interventions.” He indicated that the Chamber was of the firm belief that hard work, united front, sharpening their advocacy skills and strategic roadmap will help them effectively buy into the government’s pro-business agenda for the maximum benefit of the region. He said:" Through stakeholder forum with UCC, the chamber could leverage the One-District ,One- Factory initiative to involve all MMDCEs, the Regional Coordinating Council, traditional rulers, land commission and all the relevant stakeholders to reposition the region to secure our first share of the national cake and help reverse our present predicament as the fourth poorest region in Ghana”. Receiving the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor assured them of the University’s commitment to partner the Chamber to turn the fortunes of the region. Prof. Ampiah said:" I am very happy to say that the University of Cape Coast will collaborate with you. We are a teaching and research university so as far as our expertise is concerned, we are ready to support the Chamber in that direction”.

A training programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Coastal Management has been held for some selected journalists on campus. The five-day training programme which was organised by the Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences with support from the United States Agency for Development brought together 17 journalists. As part of the training programme, the facilitators and participants embarked on a field trip to Anlo Beach community near Shama in the Western region. Anlo Beach is gradually being eaten up by the effects of high sea level rise which has arisen due to climate change. The fishing community which is mainly inhabited by people from the Volta Region who have engaged in fishing activities since they settled there in 1903. However, Anlo Beach has known no peace for some time now because the sea has continuously battered and pummeled this eerie coastline into near oblivion. More than 200 houses were consumed by the fury of the sea during the tidal wave that hit the community in July this year. Close to a thousand inhabitants were also displaced and are still reeling under the effect of the devastation. “There were some dwellings, sheds all over this place now they are no longer here, clearly the sea has swept them away. Last time we were here in May and a lot of things have happened, we learned about the coastal flooding that has occurred not long ago and I think this is what is continuing”. Prof. John Blay of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the School of Biological Sciences made this disclosure during a field trip to the area. According to Prof. Blay the sea is gradually coming and eventually taking over from the little sand bar that is left for the people. This means the ocean keeps on rising and gradually taking over the sand as well as pushing the community way from the shore. The situation at the settlement was not much devastated as it stands now but it is now losing ground very fast. For that matter Prof. Blay is calling for a fast approach that would ensure some form of adaptation for the people.“There was a big gap between the ocean and community and now we are close to the mountain, it was not like that clearly there is a big change in the community and this what require some form of adaptation, right now they are under threat not only from the ocean but the river and will have to soon relocate”, he admonished. The menacing effect of the sea has currently diverted the estuary of River Pra from Shama to Anlo Beach. An elder of Anlo Beach, Mr. Noble Dogbatey explained that there was a flood that took over the community that cut a channel at the beach and pushed the sand bar to the estuary at Shama. This created a new entry of the river at Anlo beach. This shift of the sand bar towards Shama has affected the Anlo beach considerable making it more prone to the effects of the sea whenever it rises. There are plans to relocate the community to a new location which is on higher grounds a few kilometres from the current location.