More Whales To Die By The End Of This Year- Varsity Don

By Laud Nartey

A Marine Mammal expert at the Department of Marine and Fishery Science of the University of Ghana, Professor Patrick Kwabena Ofori-Danso has disclosed that by the end of this year more whales are expected to die in Ghana because of ingestion of marine debris into the sea. He explained that plastic waste that are washed into the sea are seen as fishes and eaten by the whales and in the end give them complications that result in death.

In addition to the plastic wastes that cause the death of the whales, entanglement with fishing gears are also causing the death of the whales.  The whales get entangled with fishing nets that are left in the sea by fishermen and this makes the movement very difficult for the whales that get entangled in it.

Prof. Ofori-Danso added that aside from natural death, possible ship strikes or collusion with ship vessels and targeted slaughter are known causes of the death of the whales.
He disclosed that targeted slaughter that is killing of the whale for sale has become a very booming business in some parts of the country.

In order to prevent the death of the whale, he recommended that there should be a direct mitigation that involves the removal of the search and removal of the fishing nets that are stuck in the sea as well as effective management of plastic waste and promotion of eco-tourism. Also there should be an improvement on the collaboration among all relevant institutions.
The other recommendations are Legislative reforms; regional cooperation; and monitoring and research. He explained that there is no clear institution that is charged with the mandate of protecting the whales. Also the animals migrate a lot hence there should be collaboration with other coastal countries.

Prof Ofori-Danso added that between 1975 and 2012, the rate at which whales were dying was very low but increased steadily in 2013. For this reason there should be research work done and also tackle with the possible causes to avert the impending marine disaster.

The Western and Central regions recorded several deaths of whales last year and Professor Ofori-Danso did not rule out the fact that they were probably brought from neighboring countries that share the coast with Ghana.

He added that it is possible that the Volta region which has not recorded any case will experience one.