Fishing activities in Kamgbunli, an Islamic community in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, have come to a standstill as fear grips fishermen over a mysterious disease affecting their recent catches.
Amidst the uncertainty, the fishermen are issuing an urgent appeal to all stakeholders to collaborate to investigate the root cause of the disease, seeking a swift solution to restore their livelihoods.
Fishermen in the area have reported a disturbing trend in their recent harvests. Over the past month, fish have been developing severe skin infections, characterized by red, swollen lesions that quickly turn into gaping wounds.
Additionally, the fish are experiencing rotten abdomens and scales falling off in patches. This has made the fish unsellable and unconsumable, causing significant economic hardship for the fishing community.
According to the fishermen, the root cause of this problem lies in the illegal mining activities (Galamsey) that have been polluting rivers like Fia, Ebi, and Amanzule.
The resulting muddy slurry has devastated aquatic life, affecting primary productivity and habitats of indigenous fish species, such as the “Bile” catfish. The fishermen are urging authorities to address this environmental crisis and find a solution to the fish disease epidemic.
In a telephone conversation, former assembly member Shaibu Issaka expressed concern about the ongoing fish disease issue, stating, “At first, we thought it was normal, but the continuous occurrence is creating a high level of panic among our community members.”
When questioned about whether the issue had been reported to the district environmental office, Shaibu Issaka replied, “We hadn’t reported it yet, thinking it was a normal occurrence, as I mentioned earlier. However, after the alarming events of Friday, January 10, and Saturday, January 11, we became concerned and plan to report it on Monday, January 13, for further investigation.”
Until the investigation is conducted to determine the actual cause of the strange disease affecting the fishes in the Fia, Ebi, and Amanzule rivers, fear and uncertainty will continue to grip the fishermen and the Kamgbunli community.
