7th Call - Professor Kwaku Tano-Debrah

Project Title: Microbial Quality and Safety of Fish along the Fish Value Chain and Their Implications on Food Security: A Case Study of the Artisanal Fishing Industry in Ghana

Principal Investigator: Prof. Kwaku Tano-Debrah (Department of Nutrition and Food Science)

Email Address: ktanode@ug.edu.gh

Award Amount: GHC 24,990.00

Project Status: On-going

Summary:

This project will determine the microbiological quality of selected marine and fresh water fishes processed and consumed in Ghana. These are mackerel and tuna from marine source, and tilapia and cat fish from fresh water source. Sampling will be done at several points along the fish value chain to decipher how practices, knowledge and attitudes of stakeholders, and the original microbiological quality of fresh landed fish affect food security by assessing the impact on fish availability and safety. Changes in microbial flora of selected fish through handling, transportation, storage, processing and marketing along the fish value chain will be evaluated to identify predominant microbes of importance in fish sourced from Ghanaian waters. Also, intrinsic factors of fresh and processed fish will be evaluated to unravel the conditions that select for the survival and growth of microbes identified in the fish samples. Information generated from this study can be used in development of technologies tailored to fish preservation in artisanal fisheries and traditional processing of fish. The experimental outcomes will also provide important data for public health and agricultural policy decisions.