El calvario de Alloza como bien patrimonial

Landing Facilities

There are three deep-water ports and harbours in Ghana at Tema, Sekondi and Takoradi that provide berthing facilities for both industrial fishing vessels and inshore vessels. There are four other ports at Apam, Mumford, Elmina and Axim that provide reasonably good landing facilities for inshore vessels. Physical landing facilities for artisanal fishing crafts are not as well developed. Canoes usually operate from open beaches. There are about 300 landing centres along the coast for marine canoes. Each landing site is under the control of a Chief Fisherman.

Total Landings

Overall landings in the last decade (1998 to 2007) have shown a declining trend with a number of the most important species showing particularly marked declines particularly the main pelagic resources such as anchovies and sardinellas (see Figure 6.3). Declines in less important pelagic resources, such as chub mackerel, Cunene horse mackerel and Crevelle jack have also contributed to the overall downward trend. However, demersal species show some increases, with grunts, Atlantic bumper, red pandora, crustaceans and demersal resources in general showing marked increases over the last ten years. From Figure 6.3 large pelagic species, namely bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna appear to have increased slightly. Landings of molluscs and crustaceans have remained constantly low.

6.4.3 Fishing Fleets

Artisanal Fishery

The artisanal sector of the industry accounts for over 70% of annual marine fish production and dominates the Ghanaian fishing industry (Mensah and Koranteng, 1988). Artisanal fishing boats operate out of 304 landing centres in 180 fishing villages located along the coast (Sarpong et al, 2005 and FAO, 2011). These vessels use a wide variety of fishing gear and target a number of different species. This sector provides employment in coastal communities, engaging over 100,000 fishermen.

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 La nd in gs (t onne s)

West African ilisha Seabreams Largehead hairtail Red pandora Cunene horse mackerel Crevalle jack Atlantic bumper Dentex Chub mackerel European anchovy Sardinellas Grunts Elasmobranchs Tuna Billfish Crustaceans Cephalopods Other demersal Other pelagic Other fish Source: FAO, 2007

The artisanal fishing community target a wide range of species from pelagic and demersal fish species and molluscs and crustaceans. Small pelagic species are mainly exploited by the artisanal purse seines and beach seines targeting species such as Sardinella species, chub mackerel and anchovies. Hook and line, and beach seines are the main artisanal gears used to exploit demersal resources to around 80 m. The main species they target are porgies or seabreams (Sparidae) (eg Dentex gibbosus, Pagrus caeruleostictus and Dentex

canariensis), snappers (Lutjanidae) (eg Lutjanus fulgens, Lutjanus goreensis) and

groupers (Serranidae) (eg Epinephelus aeneus). The beach seine fleet exploits both adult and juvenile demersal fish but mainly juvenile fish. Some of their target species include grunts (Haemulidae) (eg Brachydeuterus auritus), goatfishes (Mullidae) (eg Pseudupeneus prayensis), mullets (Mugil spp) and cutlassfish (Trichiuridae) (eg Trichiurus lepturus).

Some drift gill nets deployed by artisanal fishers are used to target the small pelagic species, but other drift gill nets are used offshore to exploit mainly large pelagic species such as tunas (eg Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus), sailfish (Istiophorus albicans), swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and sharks (Carcharhinus spp).

Artisanal gears are also used to exploit molluscs and crustaceans. Beach seines are used to exploit shrimps, mainly adult and juvenile Guinea/white shrimp (Parapaeneopsis atlantica) and tiger shrimp/camarote prawn (Penaeus

kerathurus) and juvenile pink/candied shrimp (Penaeus notialis) as they move

from the estuaries into marine waters. Lobster set nets target green (spiny) lobster (Panulirus regius), on rocky bottoms and in depths of about 40 m.

inshore fishing sector operating from seven landing centres. The majority of these semi-industrial vessels are locally built using wood and carry both purse seine and trawl gear. The semi-industrial fleet exploits both small pelagic and demersal species.

Between July and September vessels use their purse seines target small pelagic species including sardinella species, chub mackerel, sparids, big-eye grunt, cassava croaker (Pseudotolithus senegalensis), lesser African threadfin (Galeoides

decadactylus) and common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Trawling is carried out

for the remaining part of the year targeting demersal species when pelagic resources are less numerous; targeted species include grey triggerfish (Balistes

capriscus), seabreams, snappers, grunts and croakers (FAO, 2010).

Harbour facilities for large trawlers are available at two landing sites located along the coastline; Tema and Takoradi while mooring for smaller trawlers is available at Winneba, Apam, Mumford, Elmina and Sekondi.

Offshore Trawling/Distant Water Fleet

Fishermen of the industrial sector use imported steel fishing vessels. The fleet consists of trawlers, shrimpers and tuna boats and fishing trips may last up to one month. There are approximately 90 vessels in the industrial fleet, made up of around 60 trawlers and about 29 tuna boats (FAO, 2010 and ICCAT, 2009).

The industrial trawlers target semi pelagic and demersal species including porgies or seabreams, jacks (Carangidae) (eg Caranx rhonchus), groupers, snappers, croakers (eg Pseudotolithus senegalensis), goatfish (eg Pseudupeneus

prayensis), sole and flounders (Soleidae) as well as cuttlefish (eg Sepia officinalis). The industrial shrimpers operate in designated areas within

Ghanaian waters between Shama and Axim. The number of shrimp vessels was reduced to two in 2007 and neither have been operational since 2009 (MFRD, 2011b).

The potential yield of demersal fishes on Ghana’s continental shelf is estimated to be up to 55,000 tonnes annually. There has been a progressive increase in demersal landings since 2000 with catches in the region of 70,000 tonnes in 2007 (FAO, 2007), above the estimated total yield of demersal fish species of approximately 50,000 tonnes annually. This data represents the total annual catches and does not indicate fishing effort which will influence the total catches.

Tuna Fleet

The Gulf of Guinea is one of the most productive tuna fishing areas in the Atlantic Ocean due to the presence of spawning areas for yellowfin and

fleet, are skipjack tuna (over 50%), yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. Total annual landings of the three species are between 60,000 and 80,000 tonnes. Total Ghanaian annual landings of all these three species have fluctuated between approximately 51,000 and 88,000 tonnes over that past decade (see

Figure 6.4).

ICCAT carry out regular population assessments of exploited populations within their convention area and assess the status of the entire Atlantic

populations of each species. The most recent population assessments indicate that yellowfin and bigeye tuna resources in the Atlantic are being fully

exploited and any increase in catches would be detrimental to the fish

populations. The status of skipjack tuna populations is difficult to assess with traditional stock assessment models due to their particular biological and fishery characteristics, but currently the stock is not thought to be being overexploited (ICCAT, 2009).

Figure 6.4 Annual Landings of Three Tuna Species by Ghanaian Fleet (1998-2009)

Source: FAO, 2011

Shark Fishing

The exploitation of shark fins has become a widespread business in Ghana. The sharks are caught using driftnet (locally known as Anifa-anifa or Nifa- nifa) and species mostly comprise of silky shark (Carcharhinus falsiformis), black tip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus

longimanus), sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and night shark

(Carcharhinus signatus). In Ghana, shark fishing is a year-round operation with a peak season in October and December (Ghana, Post Harvest Fisheries

Overview, 2003) and may involve as many as 150,000 fishermen (Mensah, et al, 2006).

A variety of invertebrate species known from the wider/coastal area include cuttle-fish (Sepia officinalis), squid (Loligo vulgaris), octopus (Octopus vulgaris), lobster (Panulirus regius), deep-sea rose prawn (Parapenaeus longistrostris) and shrimps (mainly Penaeus notialis, Penaeus kerathurus, Parapeneopsis atlantica).

Catches are of cuttlefish species are highest, followed by the crustaceans, particularly decapod crustaceans such as Panulirus regius. Prawns are of lesser importance and catches in recent years have shown some decline. However, these species are important food items for a number of fish species and other predators within the Ghanaian coastal and marine ecosystem.

The cuttlefish species, the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and the pink cuttlefish (Sepia orbignyana), are both caught in Ghanaian waters and are both eastern Atlantic species. The deep-sea rose prawn (Parapenaeus longirostris) is found on the continental shelf and upper slope, between 50 and 400 m depth over sandy sea beds. The shrimp species, southern pink shrimp (Penaeus

notialis), Caramote prawn (Penaeus kerathurus) and Guinea shrimp

(Parapenaeopsis atlantica) constitute the majority of the shrimp catch in Ghanaian waters. They are generally associated with sandy and muddy bottoms on the continental shelf, southern pink shrimp to a depth of 100 m, Caramot prawn to 75 m, and Guinea shrimp to 60 m.

6.5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC BASELINE

6.5.1 Administrative Structures

The government structure in Ghana is made up of ten administrative regions subdivided into 170 metropolitan, municipal and districts areas, each with an administrative assembly comprised of a combination of appointed (a third) and elected (two-thirds) officials. Each area has a District Chief Executive (DCE) who heads the local assembly. The DCE is nominated by the President of the country and is confirmed by the assembly through balloting. The local government is made up of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), four-tier Metropolitan and three-tier Municipal/District Assemblies with

Urban/Town/Area/Zonal Councils. Each Electoral Area (EA) is represented at the assembly by an elected assembly member and has a Unit Committee. The Paramount Chiefs are the traditional heads of the people and carry great influence.

The Western Region (the Region closest to the project) currently comprises 14 districts, two municipalities, and one metropolis, the latter being Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA). The STMA was established during restructuring in 2008. It was formed when the former Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) was split into Shama District and STMA.

The population of Ghana is approximately 23 million (July 2008 estimate) with the Western Region having approximately 2.5 million people. The Western Region has experienced accelerated population growth over the years likely linked to in-migration resulting from increased economic activity, particularly between 1984 and 2000, when the region experienced a boom in both the mining and the cocoa industries. Over one third (36%) of the Western Region is urbanised with the remaining 64% being rural.

The population of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis (STM) was reported as approximately 370,000 in the year 2000. It is the most populated area in the Western Region, comprising about 15% of the region’s total population and approximately 80,000 people from neighbouring districts commute to the area for work.

The population of the Western Region is relatively young, with approximately 43% of the population 15 years old or younger and 5% of the population are more than 64 years old. STM has the largest proportion of the population (58%) in the working age group (15 to 64 years) in the region likely due to migration of young adults to the commercial and mining towns.

6.5.3 Economic Activity

Overview

Ghana’s domestic economy currently revolves around agriculture (which includes fishing). This accounts for about 45 to 50% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders and fishers. Other major sources of employment include mining and quarrying (employing approximately 15% of the population), and manufacturing, employing approximately 11% of the population.

The major economic activities in STM are related to the port. The STM is the third largest industrialised centre in the country and there are other significant industrial and commercial activities in the manufacturing sector (food

processing, spirits production, textiles, metal fabrication) and resources sector (timber, clay). The area has a large food and goods market which is a centre for small and medium size trading enterprises. Fisheries and tourism are the two most important activities in relation to the project and are discussed in further detail below. Other economic activities include agriculture, mining, forestry and coastal salt production.

The poverty incidence in the Western Region of Ghana ranked third highest in the country and contributed about 6.5% to the national poverty level. The levels of unemployment in the Western Region are also considered to be high.

The region is the largest commercial producer of cocoa and timber and has the largest rubber plantation in the country and its only rubber-processing factory which processes the rubber into a semi finished product for export. Coconut and oil palm are cultivated on a large scale for commercial production of vegetable oil. Subsistence farming is practiced to produce food crops such as cassava, maize, rice, cocoyam, plantain, pepper and tomatoes, and rice is grown in some low-lying areas.

Mining

Mineral mining is extensively practiced in the Western Region. Minerals mined, include gold, manganese and bauxite. The Western Region is the second highest producer of gold in the country. There are five major gold mines in the Region namely AngloGold Ashanti Iduaprem, Golden Star Resources Prestea and Bogoso, Tarkwa Gold Fields and and Aboso Gold Fields. Mining is undertaken by multinational companies. There are also some artisanal miners operating in the Region. The country’s only bauxite mine currently in production is located at Awaso in the Bibiani-Ahweaso- Bekwai District. There are other potential deposits in the Region however these have not as yet been fully explored for exploitation. Deposits of alluvial diamonds in the Bonsa River Basin were exploited by small-scale miners in the 1940s and 1950s. There is, however, potential that the river basin could still be prospected for diamonds in the future.

Salt Production

It is estimated that salt production occurs in approximately 14 coastal lagoons along the Ghanaian coast and provides employment opportunities to coastal villages. Salt is collected from lagoon flats in the dry season when salt crystallises out of the super-saturated lagoon water. In addition, dedicated man-made saltpans with low dikes are used (Armah et al, 2004). Salt production is not widely practiced in the coastal Districts of the Western Region.

Import/ Export

The deep-water port at Takoradi handles about 62% of total national export and 20% of total national imports annually. The main exports are manganese, bauxite, cocoa beans and forest products (mainly sawn timber). The main imports are clinker (for cement production), containerised cargo, lime products, petroleum products and wheat.

Tourism and Cultural Heritage

According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (2010), Ghana’s tourism sector is expected to grow at an average rate of 4.1% per annum over the next

arrivals and amount of tourists’ expenditure has steadily increased, while both public and private investment activity in various tourism sub-sectors have expanded (GIPC, 2010).

Ghana has a wide range of natural, cultural and historical attractions, which provides the basis for the growing tourism industry. The tourism potential in the Western Region is related to the number and extent of pristine tropical beaches as well as wildlife parks and forest and game reserves featuring tropical rainforests, inland lakes and rivers. Some of the most popular recreational beaches along the western coastline are located at Biriwa, Brenu Akyinim, Busua, Butre, Cape Coast, Egyembra, Elmina, Komeda, Sekondi and Takoradi (GTB, 2010). Hotels are generally located at popular beach

destination and at commercial centres.

6.5.4 Other Marine Infrastructure

Oil and Gas

Exploration and appraisal drilling activities in the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Points concession blocks are ongoing during 2011. In the Jubilee Field subsea equipment (wellheads, manifolds, umbilicals and flow lines) has been installed since January 2010 and the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah is currently located on site at 4°35’47.930” north, 2°53’30.934” west. Production started in November 2010 and by November 2011, Phase 1 well completions should have finished, comprising a total of 17 wells. Crude oil stored on the FPSO is transferred to an export tanker approximately every five to seven days at peak production. A 1 km safety exclusion zone centred at the FPSO turret and a further 10 km radius advisory zone covers the entire Jubilee Unit operational area.

Pipelines and Cables

There are several existing and planned submarine cables and pipelines offshore Ghana although none are in the vicinity of the DWT Block.

Ports and Harbours

The Port of Takoradi was built as the first commercial port of Ghana in 1928 to handle imports and exports to and from the country. The port currently has a covered storage area of 140,000 m2 _{and has an open storage area of 250,000 m}2_. It has a wide range of vessels supporting its operations including tugboats, lighter tugs, a water barge and a patrol boat. The port handles both domestic and transit cargoes and currently handles about 600 vessels annually, which is 37% of the total national seaborne traffic, 62% of total national export and 20% of total national imports annually. Almost 160,000 tonnes of cargo are

Shipping and Navigation

Figure 6.5 presents data from commercial vessel movements off West Africa

during 2005 showing the general shipping lanes. It can be seen that most commercial shipping approaches Ghana south of the DWT Block.

Figure 6.5 Shipping Lanes off West Africa

7.1 INTRODUCTION

Scoping in EIA serves principally to identify those impacts most likely to be significant and therefore need to be addressed in the EIA. The main project activities associated with offshore oil field developments are well established and the main potential issues are generally well understood. Scoping also includes elements of consultation with stakeholders to identify specific sensitivities and key issues, resources and receptors that may be affected by the project.

In undertaking the EIA Scoping phase, the EIA team has drawn upon:  its knowledge of sources of potential impact associated with offshore oil

and gas development and production;

 its experience gained through undertaking the Jubilee Phase 1 EIA and reviewing further operational monitoring data;

 an identification of the main environmental and social resources and receptors from the preliminary baseline data collection work; and  the results of the initial scoping consultation.

7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESOURCES AND RECEPTORS

For this project the following main resource / receptor types were identified.  Physical Environment: including the seabed, sediment quality, water

quality, hydrodynamics and air quality.

 Natural Environment: including plankton, benthic communities, pelagic and demersal fish, marine mammals, turtles, birds, ecosystems (marine and coastal).

 Human Environment: including coastal communities, fishing (artisanal, semi-industrial and industrial), navigation/shipping, tourism/recreation, land use, infrastructure/services, the economy, including employment and business opportunities and occupational health and safety.

7.3 IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS

The interactions of project activities with resources and receptors that might occur during the project are shown in Table 7.1, Table 7.2 and Table 7.3 for

be similar to those of installation and commissioning. Potential significant interactions have been indicated in green.

The probable environmental impacts associated with an oil and gas

development are generally narrower in scope that the possible interactions identified in these tables due to the mitigation measures that will be built into the project design but this identification process is intended to be broad at this stage so as to consider the wide range of possibilities.

7.4 IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACTS

Based on the interactions between project activities or aspects and

environmental receptors or resources discussed in Section 7.3, development of the project will result in associated impacts (ie those that will occur to some degree) and in the potential for impacts (ie those that might occur). The impacts that will be assessed in detail in the EIA can be grouped as follows.  Physical footprint (physical presence, noise and light).

 Routine discharges.  Non-routine discharges.  Air emissions.

 Waste management.