STMA bans fishing in Butuah Lagoon

by Alfred Adams

The authorities of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have placed a ban on fishing activities in the Butuah Lagoon on the Sekondi road, near Takoradi. The ban also affects farming activities in and around the estuary.
In a release issued by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, the move was based on water, sediment, and fish samples collected from the lagoon by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which depicted signs of poisoning in a September 2011 incident.
Tonnes of fish species died in the incident.
According to the EPA’s report, the massive fish kill in the lagoon was largely due to the pollution of the lagoon with paraquat toxicity.
Paraquat toxicity is a highly toxic herbicide with serious acute toxic effects and chronic (long term) effects on human health and the environment.
The assembly has threatened to arrest and prosecute anybody found to be acting contrary to the directive, in accordance with the assembly’s bye-laws and other relevant laws regulating the state.

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