Abstract:
The study investigated the oyster fishery, aspects of the biology and the culture of
Crassostrea fulipa in the Densu Delta, Ghana, from May 2017 to October 2018.
Almost all the oyster fisherfolk sampled were females, mainly between the ages of
35 to 44 years, with many dependants. The annual catch was estimated to be 295
tonnes, with an appraised value of USD 65,559. The total annual cost of fishing,
gross annual income and total annual profit were estimated at USD 11,897, USD
39,993 and USD 28,097, respectively. Generally, the oysters exhibited negative
allometry. Oysters in the shallow waters (0.61 m depth) were depleted within six
months, but the deep water (2.13m depth) oysters were underexploited. Generally,
the monthly sex ratios of the oysters did not deviate from unity. Unlike the deep
water oysters. those from the shallow beds exhibited conti nuclis spawning. None
of the Physico-chemical parameters predicted breeding. However, oyster condition
index was significantly influenced by salinity. pH and phosphate concentrations.
Growth and survival of oysters were better when cultured in suspension than at the
bottom. Biofouling had no deleterious effect on the growth and survival of oysters
cultured on coconut-shell and oyster-shell cultches. Proximate analysis revealed
that cultured oysters had a significantly higher composition of carbohydrate and
moisture than in wild oysters, while protein, lipids, ash and fibre were comparable
in both treatments. Oyster consumers preferred the taste of cultured oyster meat to
wild oyster meat. Regulation of the fishery. large-scale cultivation and value·
addition is recommended to create jobs, maximise income and to meet both local
and international demands.
