Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana
The main aim of fisheries management is to achieve sustainability of the resource. This paper investigates the potential of closed fishing season as an effective conservation measure in increasing fish stocks in Ghana. The study contributes empirically to the literature on fisheries governance and m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.e-fas.org/archive/view_article?doi=10.47853/FAS.2024.e70 |
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| author | Victor Owusu |
| author_facet | Victor Owusu |
| author_sort | Victor Owusu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main aim of fisheries management is to achieve sustainability of the resource. This paper investigates the potential of closed fishing season as an effective conservation measure in increasing fish stocks in Ghana. The study contributes empirically to the literature on fisheries governance and marine conservation challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa using a political ecology approach. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, which consisted of 300 household surveys and 40 interviews with major stakeholders. The study’s findings revealed no significant increase in fish production since 2016, after implementing the closed season in Ghana. The seasonal closures have further impoverished fisherfolk livelihoods through low fish catch and income. These findings suggest that implementing the temporal fishing bans alone without other management interventions would not yield positive ecological and economic outcomes. Therefore, fisheries managers must collaborate with fisherfolk, the coastal communities, NGOs, and other concerned stakeholders to achieve sustainable management of fisheries resources. The study recommends stringent enforcement of the rules and regulations concerning illegal fishing activities and the introduction of social intervention programs to ameliorate the economic hardship of fisherfolk during the closed season. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a38eee7aca9c4e3aa8d0724ba8940f93 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2234-1757 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-a38eee7aca9c4e3aa8d0724ba8940f932025-08-20T02:34:24ZengThe Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic ScienceFisheries and Aquatic Sciences2234-17572024-11-01271175376810.47853/FAS.2024.e70Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in GhanaVictor Owusu0Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O.BOX 25, WINNEBA, GhanaThe main aim of fisheries management is to achieve sustainability of the resource. This paper investigates the potential of closed fishing season as an effective conservation measure in increasing fish stocks in Ghana. The study contributes empirically to the literature on fisheries governance and marine conservation challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa using a political ecology approach. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, which consisted of 300 household surveys and 40 interviews with major stakeholders. The study’s findings revealed no significant increase in fish production since 2016, after implementing the closed season in Ghana. The seasonal closures have further impoverished fisherfolk livelihoods through low fish catch and income. These findings suggest that implementing the temporal fishing bans alone without other management interventions would not yield positive ecological and economic outcomes. Therefore, fisheries managers must collaborate with fisherfolk, the coastal communities, NGOs, and other concerned stakeholders to achieve sustainable management of fisheries resources. The study recommends stringent enforcement of the rules and regulations concerning illegal fishing activities and the introduction of social intervention programs to ameliorate the economic hardship of fisherfolk during the closed season. http://www.e-fas.org/archive/view_article?doi=10.47853/FAS.2024.e70Small-scale fisheriesClosed seasonMarine sustainabilityFisheries livelihoodsCoastal Ghana |
| spellingShingle | Victor Owusu Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Small-scale fisheries Closed season Marine sustainability Fisheries livelihoods Coastal Ghana |
| title | Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana |
| title_full | Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana |
| title_short | Effects of the closed fishing season on small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in Ghana |
| title_sort | effects of the closed fishing season on small scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods in ghana |
| topic | Small-scale fisheries Closed season Marine sustainability Fisheries livelihoods Coastal Ghana |
| url | http://www.e-fas.org/archive/view_article?doi=10.47853/FAS.2024.e70 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT victorowusu effectsoftheclosedfishingseasononsmallscalefisheriesandcoastallivelihoodsinghana |