The impacts of oil and gas activities on fisheries in the western region of Ghana

Abstract

Ghana’s find of oil and gas in commercial quantities marks the beginning of a billion-dollar industry. The exploration and production of it is a major industrial development but its negative impacts on fisheries can never be underestimated. The research questions to be answered are: how is it likely that the fisheries in Ghana will be affected by the expanding oil and gas activities? What kinds of measures have been introduced to safeguard the fisheries? What can be done to mitigate harms and to secure a peaceful co-existence between the petroleum and the fisheries sectors? Purposive and random samplings were used to select one hundred and eighty respondents in the Cape Three Points community during field survey in the month of June and July 2011. Key informants were interviewed and field observations were also made. The result shows that standard of living of respondents is generally low and they lack social amenities in the community. The general perception of the respondents (75.6 %) is positive because they are expecting the oil and gas activities to boost their livelihood activities and increase income. The majority of the respondents with positive perception are women engaged in fish related activities, petty trading and farming. 36.2% of respondents asserted that the oil and gas activities would bring great loss in the quantity of fish catch. These were mostly fishermen and fishmongers. Even though the 36.2% is quite marginal, it still confirms the assertion that fish catch may reduce. Restriction imposed by naval officials in charge of the rigs, the incident of oil spillage and pollution are other major concern by the respondents. The government is enacting some laws and policies which can safeguard the fisheries if well implemented, however local communities and stakeholder involvement is not adequate. Also the institutions lack the human resources and the capacity to implement these policies. Recommendations are therefore made to ensure peaceful co-existence between fisheries and the oil and gas sector.

Keywords: Oil and gas activities, fisheries, mitigation, livelihoods, Western Region, Ghana