Baseline studies of some fishing communities in Ghana: a comparative assessment

Abstract

The information gathered in this study was to serve as a baseline data for assessing the impact of the adoption of the Chorkor smoker - an improved fish smoking oven by selected fishing communities. Fourteen Ghanaian fishing communities were involved, and 12 or more women from each community constituted the respondents. The types of existing smoking ovens, fish smoking techniques/methods, fish marketing, profit margins, constriants, living conditions, health status and gender roles were assessed. Check lists, focus group discussions and on sight observations were applied in the collection of data. Techniques for fish smoking were similar in all the communities even though there were differences in the types of ovens and fish smoked. Most communities had circular or rectangular mud or metal ovens. Ovens in river fishing communities were smaller in capacity than those in the marine fishing areas. The sardinellas (s. aurita and S. eba) were the predominant fish smoked. Variable incomes were obtained and these were found to depend on season, market, fish quality, and scale of production. Literacy rate was low and sanitation was poor. Houses were built of cement blocks/bricks, mud, wood or cardboard. Pipe borne water was available in nine, electricity in seven, health posts in six and primary schools in 11 out of the 14 communities.The sub-urban fishing communities were found to be better off than rural fishing villages/communities