Marine Policy 120 (2020) 104120 Available online 20 July 2020 0308-597X/© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Assessment of postharvest fsh losses: The case study of Albert Bosomtwi-Sam fshing harbour, Western Region, Ghana Watson Ray Gyan, MSc a, b, c, d, e, * , Elliot Haruna Alhassan e, ** , Amos Asase d , Daniel Nsoh Akongyuure e, *** , Yang Qi-Hui, Professor a, b, c, **** a College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China b Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China c Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High Effciency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China d Department of Fisheries and Water Resources, Box 214, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana e Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box, TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Post harvest fsh losses Fishermen Fish processors Fish sellers Artisanal fsheries Gears ABSTRACT The increase in world population calls for an urgent increase in the food supply, and the critical way to go is to reduce food loss after harvest. To reduce these losses, a study was conducted to assess the postharvest fsh losses at Albert Bosomtwi-Sam fshing harbour at Sekondi in the Western Region of Ghana from July 2015 to January 2016. Random sampling was used to select 150 fshermen, 90 fsh processors and 90 fsh sellers’ while ques- tionnaires were administered. Fishes mostly caught were the Sardinella maderensis (Madeiran sardinella) and S. aurita (Sardines). Postharvest fsh loss from 2010 to 2016 was estimated to be 92 tonnes. The types of losses that were identifed in the study area included quality losses (50%), physical losses (32%), and market losses (12%). Also, the leading causes of postharvest fsh losses in the study area included inadequate ice (10%), extended stay at the harbour (33%), poor processing technique (30%) and gear-related injuries (28%). Smoking and salting were the highest processing methods used contributing 40% each, while drying provided 15% and 5% for frying helping in reducing those losses. Infrastructural facilities should be provided to fsherfolk to help reduce post- harvest fsheries losses (PHFL). This information will help the government, policymakers in making constructive decisions to reduce PHFL and increase proft for fsherfolk. 1. Introduction Fisheries play a signifcant role in giving food and jobs to millions of people in the developing world [1]. Food security occurs when all people at all times have both physical and fnancial access to food. Fisheries generate an indispensable contribution to the animal protein foods of countless communities in both industrialised and developing countries [2]. In a Ghanaian diet, fsh is an essential food item. It con- tributes to about 60% of animal protein intake, and it is part of the everyday diet for millions of persons, including the poor and the rich people [3]. It is relatively low-priced than other animal proteins. Fish are mostly caught through industrial or artisanal fshing. It helps create employment for many people across the globe and helps improve the standard of living among many fshing communities. The artisanal fshing industry also offers a job to many people from the production stage, through handling and processing step to the marketing. Fisheries contribute to the nation’s economy through foreign exchange and in- ternal revenue obtained from domestic fshing [4]. Artisanal fsheries account for more than half of total fsh production in the world. Fisheries constitute a vital sector in national economic development and are projected to contribute 3% of total GDP and 5% of the GDP in agricul- ture [3]. In addition to these economic, social and nutritional benefts, worries are raised about the sustainability of artisanal fsheries in maintaining their role of flling the gap between an ever-increasing demand for fsh and dwindling supplies from wild capture fsheries. * Corresponding author. Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China. ** Corresponding author. *** Corresponding author. Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China **** Corresponding author. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box, TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana E-mail addresses: 3579059036@qq.com (W.R. Gyan), qihuiyang03@163.com (Y. Qi-Hui). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Marine Policy journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/marpol https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104120 Received 13 February 2020; Received in revised form 12 May 2020; Accepted 27 June 2020