Hydropower generation and its related impacts on aquatic life (fisheries)

This chapter looks at the impacts of hydropower development on fisheries resources using the Bui dam project as a typical case study. Specifically, the chapter focuses on the following areas: impacts of impoundments on riverine ecosystems, food security and fish consumption, fish diversity, fish and fishers- migration. The increasing demand of energy for social and economic development of the world and in particular the Ghanaian economy has resulted in the creation of dams to generate electricity. Amidst poor planning, construction and monitoring of dams has adverse effects on fishers and fishing communities, evidence in the loss of many livelihoods. There is therefore the need to better manage dams to sustain livelihoods of fishing communities and fish stocks.