In 2009, GRID and NEA reached a milestone in their aquaculture program. Two of the ponds that had been stocked by NEA were harvested for the first time, proving that against all odds, fish can be raised in Northern Ghana!
Harvest time was an exciting community event. NEA staff and the village pond management committee conducted the harvest with most of the community watching. Teachers found it impossible to keep children in class as they didn’t want to miss seeing the harvest. People were laughing, clapping and cheering as the nets came to the shore, laden with a good catch.
One pond yielded 1600 lbs of fish; another yielded 1800 lbs. Fish were shared among the residents of the host community, who rejoiced to be able to eat so well.
The fish ponds can be harvested several times a year, which means that they will be an ongoing, sustainable source of protein for communities who would otherwise endure severe hunger.
Thank you to our supporters, and to the Canadian International Development Agency, for making this important initiative possible.
Did you know that GRID and NEA have facilitated the protection of over 250 km of the Black Volta river in Ghana? By organizing a team of over six hundred volunteers, we have been able to virtually eliminate the use of chemicals and illegal nets on this stretch of the river. Fishermen are noticing a return in the quantity of fish that they are catching, and are even seeing some species of fish that they had believed were extinct. We’re excited to hear this, and excited to think that poisoned fish are appearing less frequently in the markets.