Dead fishes washed ashore: Fisheries Ministry coordinates into incident

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is coordinating an inter-agency investigation into the reported incidents of dead fishes of various species, washed ashore beaches in Accra and Axim over the Easter weekend.

The agencies include Fisheries Commission, Food and Drugs Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ghana Maritime Authority, the Ghana Navy, the Marine Police and the respective Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies in the areas affected.

The investigations will determine the causes of the incidents and possible preventive measures for the future, said a statement issued and copied the Ghanaian Times by Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

The statement said that the agencies are also collaborating to prevent an entry of the dead fishes into the markets and food chain.

It said the Ministry assures the general public that it would take all necessary steps to protect the fisheries industry from the potential harmful effects of this incident.

Further, the Ministry reiterates the advice of FDA to the general public to desist from consuming the fish, in view of the potential risk to health and safety.

The public is also being entreated to inspect the freshness of the eyes and gills of fish they seek to buy, which should generally be reddish in colour.

The washed-ashore fish typically shows signs of popped out and unclear eyes, dull colouration of gills, bloating around the abdominal areas and possible oozing of foul scented fluids.

The Ghana Police Service and City security officials have been alerted to arrest any persons found distributing fish from these incidents into the Ghanaian food chain.

The statement said the public would be updated of the outcome of this investigation.

BY TIMES REPORTER