Trigger fish (Balistes spp.) processing industry at Elmina: a fishing village in Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Trigger fish falls within the Balistes group of fish whose name refers to the fact that the bones of the upper jaw are fused toqether. They are distinguished by the externa1 feature of non-over 1apping or open scales. The species landed in Elmina and other parts of Ghana has no scales and the body is covered with a very tough skin. It is of grey or dull grey colour interspersed with b1uish spots at the back and has a characteristic smell. At Elmina, trigger fish is always salted and sun dried to preserve it on commercial scale. Drying after salting makes it easy to peel off the tough skin and the impregnated salt also improves the taste. Studies have been carried out on the traditional processing of trigger fish at Elmina. Proximate composltlon of samples from various processing centres is also provided. Recent studies indicate a growing trend in the trigger fish processing industry, both at Elmina and other fishing villages in Ghana