The impact of fisheries on the environment of Lake Volta

Abstract

The major environmental impacts of fisheries on the Volta Lake ecosystem arise from (a) fishing operations, (b) fish processing activities and (c) the fishers' settlements. Fishing methods involving poison, dynamite and an array of non-selective gear pose a serious threat to the environment and biodiversity. The West African manatee Trichechus senegalensis is threatened by the drag net fishing operations. Similarly, intensive fishing for the Nile perch, Lates niloticus has depleted the population of this top predator, leading to decreased forage-carnivore ratio in the Lake. There is evidence that the size at first maturity has decreased in respect of at least 5 fish species. These environmental problems can be addressed by a number of measures such as (a) diversion of surplus labor from capture fisheries, (b) educating people on the conservation and fishery management laws, (c) regulation of fishing gear, (d) afforestation drives, (e) involvement of village community in the decision making process and (f) a ban on hunting West African Manatee in the lake. © International Scientific Publications, New Delhi.