Methods of Fishing in Ghana: Atidza (Acadja) Brush Park Fishing

Joseph Akagbo and Selassie Tsetsogbi (below) are Atidza/Acadja blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) urban fishermen. Atidza/Acadja Method of Fishing in Ghana Atidza (in Ewe) or Acadja (in Ga) fishermen spend more than 5 hours every 4 weeks digging up an underwater structure made up of mangrove brush bundles from the muddy bottoms of the Densu Delta lagoon in order to surround a concentration of blackchin tilapia that had mistaken the trap for a habitat. Methods of fishing in Ghana: Joseph Akagbo (left), 49 years, and Selassie Tsetsogbi (right), 48, are engaged in Atidza/Acadja fishing in the Densu Delta in the Ga South Municipality, Accra, Ghana. They used both red and black mangrove brush bundles to create artificial habitat, which attracted wild blackchin tilapia. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka ChasantBrush Park Fishing in Ghana: Aerial view of urban poor fishermen engaged in Atidza/Acadja brush park fishing — to catch blackchin tilapia — in the Densu River in Accra, Ghana. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka ChasantBlackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) fishing in Ghana: Densu Delta brush park (Atidza/Acadja) fishermen gradually draw together their net to capture blackchin tilapia that had taken up residence in the artificial mangrove brush bundles. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka Chasant The fishermen usually harvest the entrapped fish every 4 weeks. Atidza/Acadja in the Densu River involves sinking felled mangrove brush bundles into the muddy brackish water to form artificial habitats. This provides a nursery environment for many species, including blackchin tilapia. The artificial habitat serves as a sanctuary — a spawning and feeding shelter — for mainly the lagoon tilapia around the Densu Delta brackish water. Atidza or Acadja Brush Park Fishing: Urban poor fishermen use mangrove brush woods to create artificial habitat to attract Blackhin Tilapia (sarotherodon melanotheron) in the Densu River in Accra, Ghana. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka ChasantTilapia fishing in Ghana: Joseph Akagbo (front) and Selassie Tsetsogbi (back) are Atidza/Acadja Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) fishermen. They use black mangrove woods to create brush shelters to enhance Blackchin Tilapia production in the Densu Delta in Accra, Ghana. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka ChasantBlackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron): Catch of Blackchin Tilapia. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka Chasant Freshly caught Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron). Accra, Ghana. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka Chasant Atidza/Acadja is a major source of livelihood for a lot of fishermen around Dansoman, Tetegu, Glefe, Tsokomey, Bortianor, and Faaanaa. Red mangroves (Rhizophora racemosa). Copyright © 2020 Muntaka ChasantBlack mangroves (Avicennia germinans) Copyright © 2020 Muntaka Chasant The fishermen cut down red mangroves (Rhizophora racemosa) and black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) trees around the area to construct the Atidza/Acadja brush parks. I will be exploring Atidza/Acadja in the Stories section with a video and different sets of photographs — including the impact of cutting down the red mangroves on the ecology of the Densu Delta wetland ecosystems. Copyright © 2020 Muntaka Chasant

Methods of Fishing in Ghana: Atidza (Acadja) Brush Park Fishing

Urban Fisherman