Aquaculture in troubled climate: Farmers’ perception of climate change and their adaptation

Abstract

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries in the fisheries sector of Ghana, serving as a source of protein, food security, employment creation, economic growth and poverty reduction strategy. The aim of this paper is to assess the awareness level and perception as well as adaptation strategies adopted by small scale aquafarmers on climate change. Climatological data, namely, temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were collected for the period 1989–2015 from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and analysed to determine the trends. The study adopted stratification and simple random sampling technique in obtaining 40 respondents (aquafarmers and other stakeholders) from the Sunyani Aquaculture Zone through questionnaires administration. The analysis of the data utilised descriptive statistics. Findings of this study indicate that there have been significant changes in temperature, rainfall and relative humidity patterns. Aquafarmers have considerable knowledge on climate change from sources such as radio (36%), schools (24%) and television (20%). A number of adaptation strategies are employed by aquafarmers to deal with climate change, including, water management, construction of bore-holes, sitting farms close to water bodies, adjusting fish stocking time, and creation of embankment to avoid floods. Aquaculture extension education should be carried out regularly to enhance aquafarmers adaptation responses to the existing and potential negative impacts of climate change which is a threat to aquaculture production and sustainable livelihood.