SAFEL: Sustainable aquatic foods, environment and livelihoods

Aquatic pollution in Ghana is a long-standing problem largely driven by anthropogenic activities, such as the increased use of chemicals in agriculture, and the rise in small-scale mining in major river basins. The two main freshwater systems in Ghana, the Volta and the south-western river systems, which together account for 92% of the surface water resources in Ghana, are heavily impacted by human activities. 

The accumulations of pesticide residues and heavy metals in fish tissues have been reported in several studies. The human exposure risks to these contaminants are very high since freshwater fisheries account for nearly 20% of captured fish and play a vital role in food consumption. The Volta basin also accounts for more than 80% of aquaculture production in Ghana. Fish from marine sources in Ghanaian waters have also been affected by mining activities. 

The severe pollution of the major water bodies in Ghana also impacts livelihoods and economic activities. Fishers along the major rivers impacted by agricultural and/or mining activities face declining fish stocks due to habitat destruction and the accumulation of contaminants in fish, leading to reduced income and food insecurity. With water temperatures projected to rise by up to 4°C by the end of this century, most of the challenges will likely intensify. 

The SAFEL project will provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of aquatic pollution from environmental health, socio-economic, and human health perspectives and address key challenges.

The specific objectives of the SAFEL project are to:

1. Quantify the types and levels of pesticides residues and heavy metals in water, sediment and wild fish, and comprehensively document the transfer pathways along different sections of the Volta and Pra Rivers.

2. Examine the effects of contaminant accumulation on the physiological response of some fish species (wild and cultured).

3. Assess the impacts of heavy metal and pesticide pollution on the livelihoods and socio-economic activities of residents along the impacted rivers.

4. Determine the levels of heavy metals and pesticide residues in humans and evaluate the public health implications of consuming contaminated fish and water.

5. Build the skills of academics, communities and practitioners on contaminant analysis, and the ecological and human dimensions of aquatic pollution.

Outcomes from this research will support the formulation of policies aimed at pollution control, sustainable water management, and community resilience.

The primary roles of DTU in the project are determining transfer pathways of pesticide and heavy metal contaminants in aquatic systems, how fish from different trophic levels are affected physiologically and behaviourally, interacting effects of climate change and aquatic pollution on fish health and coping ability, and effects on reproductive success.

Funding

The project is funded by Danida Fellowship Centre

Research area: Aquaculture