Health Implications of Polluted Tilapia Consumption – The Perception of Fosu Lagoon Fishermen in Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

It has long been posited that the Fosu Lagoon, located in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana, is among polluted lagoons in the West African Coastal Zone.  The lagoon is a habitat of many aquatic fishes, the most popular among is tilapia with zoological name saratherodon melanotheron of the chiclid family.  Tilapia continues to be fished from this polluted lagoon in spite of the fact that the fishesare polluted with lead and cadmium.This paper looks at the perception of fishermen who fish in the lagoon with regards to effects of consumption of the tilapia on their health.

The purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in selecting the sample population.  Interview schedule and observation tools were applied in soliciting data from the fishermen.  Both open and closed ended questions were posed in the schedule.SPSS 13 was used for the analysis. The descriptive method of analysis was employed.

Results gathered showed that fishermen did not have any idea on translocation of toxic heavy metals from water through the food chain to humans. On the average 75.5 percent of the fishermendid not perceive that tilapia consumption had negative health implications. However over 90 percent of the subjects consumed between 78g and 500g of tilapia per week.

The paper recommends that medical personnel, particularly, doctors must be involved in educating the fishermen on the health implications that may arise in the consumption of tilapia from the Fosu lagoon.  Vernacular, particularly the local dialect, would be the most appropriate medium of communication in the education process.

Keywords: cadmium, health, lead, perception, pollution.