By Priscilla Armoh AGYAPOMAH
The sea’s resources have long been the backbone of local communities. For generations, fishermen have relied on the ocean’s abundance to make a living and feed their families. However, the tide is changing. Climate change and sea pollution are silently eroding the ocean’s health, threatening this ancient way of life.
The once-thriving fishing industry now faces a grim reality, as plastic waste and warming waters drive fish populations away. Through the eyes of a retired fisherman, we’ll explore the stark contrast between the past and present state of fishing and the urgent need for sustainable practices to preserve the ocean’s future.
Reflecting on his early days, Anan Abbey, a retired fisherman at Tema Landing Beach, paints a vivid picture of a thriving ocean. “There used to be moments when the sea’s color would change, signaling the arrival of fish,” he recalled. “The water would become very shiny and twinkle, and you could see fish jumping in and out of the sea. Some even came close to the shore, and you could pick them up with your hands.”
He spoke of how the changing color of the water was like a beacon, alerting fishermen to the presence of large schools of fish. “When the sea turned a certain shade, we knew it was time to cast our nets,” he explained. “It was a natural signal that we had learned to read. It could become blue or even brown, signaling an abundance of fish.”
The closeness of the fish to the shore was another testament to the ocean’s richness. Anan described how, at times, the fish were so plentiful that they could be scooped up by hand, a phenomenon that seems almost mythical in today’s context. “You could literally walk along the shore and pick up fish,” he marveled. “It was a sign of how healthy and vibrant the ocean was.”
These signs of abundance were a fisherman’s delight, promising a fruitful catch. The ocean was not just a source of food but a living, breathing entity teeming with life and energy. For Anan and his fellow fishermen, the sea was a reliable partner, a provider that sustained their families and way of life.
Anan’s reflections underscore the profound changes that have occurred over the years, highlighting the stark contrast between the past and present state of the ocean. His stories serve as a sad reminder of what has been lost and the urgent need to address the challenges facing our marine environments today.
However, this wonderful scene is now a distant memory. The fisherman lamented the current state of the sea, where there is little to no catch. “Nowadays, I go out to fish and come back with little fish or sometimes none,” he said with a heavy heart. “Not only me but also my fellow fishermen. We can even spend as long as a week at sea and come back with only a few fish.”
He also said that the current state of the sea has been drastically altered by pollution and climate change. “Sometimes, I go out to fish and come back with plastics,” he said. “The sea is polluted, and it’s pushing the fish away.”
The once vibrant waters are now tainted with plastic waste, disrupting marine ecosystems and driving fish populations to seek cleaner, safer habitats. The warming waters, a direct consequence of climate change, further exacerbate the situation by altering migration patterns and breeding cycles of many fish species.
The transformation from a thriving fishing environment to a polluted, depleted one underscores the urgent need to address climate change and sea pollution. According to the UN Environmental Program, humanity produces over 430 million tons of plastic a year globally, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste. This sheer volume of plastic waste entering the oceans disrupts marine life, often with fatal consequences.
Fish ingest plastic particles, mistaking them for food, which can lead to starvation and death. The accumulation of plastics also affects the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, leading to further decline in fish populations. According to Nii Odarmetey, the chief fisherman of the Tema Landing Beach, some fish and other sea mammals like turtles get entangled with the waste in the sea. He added that turtles play a crucial role in protecting fish fingerlings by feeding on jellyfish, which otherwise prey on the young fish.
He also pointed out that part of the pollution problem stems from the fishers themselves, who often discard plastic water bottles and sachets into the sea. This irresponsible behavior contributes significantly to the growing plastic pollution problem, affecting the health of marine life and the quality of the catch.
Rising global temperatures and increased carbon emissions are warming our oceans, causing acidification and damaging coral reefs, which are essential for many marine species. This environmental degradation not only threatens fish populations but also the livelihoods of those who depend on them. According to Dr. Mark Terry, to save the ocean, we must reduce carbon emissions and also decrease the excess carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
In response to these challenges, Ghana has implemented closed fishing seasons to allow fish populations to recover and replenish. While these measures are crucial, they alone are not enough to combat the broader issues of pollution and climate change affecting the marine environment.
The retired fisherman’s story is a touching reminder of what has been lost and what is at stake. To preserve the ocean’s future and restore its health, urgent and sustained efforts are needed. This includes reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change, implementing stricter regulations on plastic waste, and adopting sustainable fishing practices that protect marine life.
By taking action now, we can hope to see the seas once again teeming with life, as they did in the fisherman’s youth. The ocean’s bounty, if carefully managed and protected, can continue to sustain future generations, just as it did for those who came before us.
