Today’s Fishing Community

Many fishing communities have been in a process of gradual decline over the last 40 years.
Fishing and fish processing as sectors now employ 22,000 people within the total Ghanaian stock
of 28.5 million jobs. In 2015 people directly employed in fishing accounted for around 12,000 of
the people filling these jobs. In 1987 the figure was approaching 25,000. Over 20% of all those
working directly as fishermen in the industry are family workers. Fishing communities can suffer
profound deprivation. A number of the fishing communities profiled in this research are in
relatively remote locations and act as the main economic driver for a large rural hinterland.

There is significant economic potential in the fishing sector which wider economic changes over
the next decade will bring into sharp focus. An economic multiplier analysis indicates that
12,000 fishing jobs support a further 4,000 jobs in the wider economy and that the GH₵552
million value of landings contributes that amount again in wider added value; making the overall
impact of the Ghanaian fishing sector worth GH₵1.14million.
Overall impact of the Ghanaian fishing sector is worth GH₵1.14 million. Over the next decade,
the impact of fishing communities in Ghana and new regulations are likely to cause significant
changes to the operational context of the fishing sector, bringing new and potentially unexpected
challenges and opportunities.

Fishing communities in Ghana

To understand the nature of the fishing industry 41 fishing communities across the Ghanaian
have been profiled and analysed in detail. This sample represents:
 20% of all fishing communities in the Ghanaian with over 5 boats;
 43% of all boats in the Ghanaian;
 52% of all fishermen by home port and
 76% of all fishermen by administrative port;
 70% of the total value of all landings in the Ghanaian.

Headline findings from the analysis of 41 fishing communities revealed the following
information.
High Levels of Deprivation
The most recent and relevant Index of Multiple Deprivation was used to measure the socio-
economic characteristics of port neighbourhoods.
 61% of the fishing communities are deprived (using the same measure, by contrast, only
25% of the Ghanaian fishermen are deprived overall)
 66% of the fishing communities with significant landings are deprived
 65% of the fishing communities with a high ratio of larger boats are deprived; the figure
is 46% for those with a high ratio of smaller boats
 65% of the home fishing communities with over 25 crew are deprived
 Rural/Urban Divide
 15 of the fishing communities are rural and 8 are urban
 This high incidence of 46% rural fishing communities compares to a Ghana’s average
rural population of around 20%

Crew engagement
 10 of the 20 fishing communities with over 20 crew have a high proportion of larger
boats over 10 metres
 12 of the fishing communities with over 20 crew have a high value of landings (due to
investment in larger boats).  For example Jamestown remained the fishing community
with the highest landings – 145 thousand tonnes with a value of GH₵158 million. 

Reviewing the Existing Research

A literature review focused on the socio-economic issues within fishing communities that have
previously been identified, as well as some of the potential opportunities that exist. Interim
findings are summarised below and full references will be available in the final research report.
Economic Hardship
 The majority of fishing communities are in social mobility coldspots ie. where social
mobility prospects are lower.
 Recent reductions in public sector funding/ service provision and welfare reforms have
led to greater needs among fishermen and fishing families (Opoku, 2015).
 Fishermen feel under constant financial pressure from issues such as the unpredictable
nature of their earnings (Opoku, 2015).
Demographic Difficulties
 The industry has a declining and/or ageing workforce (FARNET, 2017; Reed et al, 2011;
University of Ghana, 2002)
 The population of fishermen and their families is larger than most people think (which
means its significance is often under-estimated) and is declining slowly: in 2015 there
were 1.35 million people in the Ghanaian fishing community, with higher than predicted
numbers of Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet seafarers and their families (Walker &
Fairclough, 2017).
 Fishermen are skilled at what they do but often lack formal academic qualifications
(Opoku, 2015)
 A high proportion of fishermen have at least one disability/long-term illness affecting
their everyday life (Opoku, 2016).

Barriers to Business Development

 The rising cost of entry into the fishing industry is a barrier (Opoku, 2015).
 Migrant workers are seen as the solution to difficulties in recruiting from the local
population who sometimes regard fish processing jobs as low wage work with unpleasant
working conditions (Jamieson et al, 2009).
 In many areas facilities are run down. Investment is needed to modernise equipment,
vessels & boat, technology and improve health and safety. This particularly impacts on
smaller fishermen (Maillart et al, 2016).
 The inshore industry (ie. the fleet of boats under 10 metres) has reduced and business
opportunities upstream have declined (Reed et al, 2011).

Potential Opportunities
Onshore integration and collaboration
 Fishermen are resilient - artisanal fishermen often cross-subsidise their fishing activities
by taking supplementary employment onshore (Brookfield et al, 2005).
 There is scope for greater integration of fishing with tourism, particularly through
festivals and events (Reed et al, 2011; University of Ghana, 2002).
  There is scope to improve sea fisheries’ science through collaborative work with
fishermen (e.g. surveys, mapping) – helping address the current time lags between
knowledge and action (Marine Planning Consultancy, 2015; Salmon et al, 2015;
University of Ghana, 2013).
 Small-scale Producer Organisations (PO) give smaller boats a voice and greater control to
help exert their influence in the fishing industry (NEF, 2016).

Localism
 There is opportunity around food branding to add value to fish caught locally (Reed et al,
2011) – this can mould consumer demand to the type of niche products which the fishing
industry can supply (Brookfield et al, 2005).
 There is merit in looking at the role of the contribution of fishing to the local economy
more broadly by analysing how much fishermen spend on suppliers and services – rather
than looking at their catch/landings. This gives a more rounded view of the importance of
the sector economically (Acott et al, 2014).

Achievement of Responsible Fishing

Sustainable fisheries development can be achieved through responsible fishing, which considers
rational fishery management objectives that address a range of issues including the status of the
resource, the health of the environment, post-harvest technology and trade, as well as other
economic concerns, social benefits, legal and administrative support. In the case of shared
resources, a co-ordinated approach to responsible fisheries management is essential, and Caddy
and Griffiths (1995) proposed the following actions:

Regulate fishing effort

It is crucial to control fishing effort, and to avoid financial incentives that would contribute to
excess fishing capacity. Excess fishing capacity and overcapitalization threaten the sustainability
of the resource, as well as the industry.
Establish code of conduct for responsible fishing to guide management plan
This is needed to maximize benefits from the fishery, while avoiding wastage caused by
indiscriminate fishing practices. In particular, it is important to reduce catches of undersized fish
and non-target species, and to avoid use of gears that have a negative impact on the environment.

Establish and support regional/international fishery commissions and organisations

concerned with management of shared resources
The successful management of shared resources requires effective coordination by all the
countries concerned. The relevant international fisheries agreements promote participation in,
and financial support for, the work of these commissions and organisations.

Regular consultation among harvesting countries

Parties sharing the resources need to consult and collaborate regularly so as to promote
understanding and full cooperation.

Set agreed management objectives and related reference points, incorporating a precautionary
approach
Agreement on management reference points during the early stages of the fishery will help to
ensure full cooperation of participants with management decisions. Where there is scientific
uncertainty, a precautionary approach to management is recommended.

Develop contingency plans

Management plans should incorporate some contingency for dealing with sudden and
unpredictable environmental changes caused by man-made or natural disasters.

Develop mechanism for resolving user conflicts

Management should provide mechanisms for handling problems arising from resource user
conflicts.
Protect biodiversity
The biodiversity or species richness of an ecosystem is an important measure of ecosystem
health. The preservation of biodiversity will ensure that present human development activities do
not threaten the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Protect the environment

There should be monitoring and control of waste disposal and pollution. In addition, every effort
should be made to prevent discarding of entangling material that could trap and kill species or
physically damage the environment.

Promotion of research
Research should be conducted to support and inform various aspects of management.

Optimise social and economic stability

There should be fair and equitable distribution of benefits derived from the fishery.

Constraints to fishing communities

For many fishing communities in Ghana, there are a number of constraints that pose significant
challenges to the sustainable development of fisheries, including the following:
 Fishing practices
Destructive fishing methods such as dynamiting fish are still practiced in certain areas.
Additionally, fishers continue to use illegal mesh sizes that catch very small fish, and
non-target species that may have little or zero market value.
 Inadequate knowledge of the resource and ecosystem
Many fishing communities do not have sufficient detailed data to permit an accurate
evaluation of the status of their resources and a good understanding of their marine
ecosystem.
 Inadequate knowledge and recognition of social and economic conditions
Many governments within the region still do not have an adequate appreciation of the
social and economic potential of sustainable fisheries development, and hence still invest
minimum resources in fisheries development and management activities.
 Absence of long-term policies
 The lack of long-term policies makes it difficult for fishing communities to maintain pace
with rapidly evolving trends in global fisheries management approaches and trade
strategies.
 Capacity
Many fishing communities, fisheries administrations are poorly staffed, and there are
limited numbers of skilled and knowledgeable fisheries technicians, scientists and
managers, and limited equipment and funds available for basic tasks such as data
collection and research. There are few research institutions and regional organisations
within the region, and some of these suffer similar limitations in available funding and a
broad range of technical expertise.
 Resource user input
In the fishing communities, fisherfolk organisations have not actively participated in the
management process, mainly owing to a lack of good organisational and administrative
skills. On the part of the fishers, this has resulted in a lack of trust in, and respect for, the
governments that are responsible for making fisheries management decisions.
 Capability for monitoring, control and surveillance
In many instances, there is little or no capacity for monitoring, control and surveillance
activities, and no associated legislative framework.
 Post harvest aspects
Fishing communities are just beginning to develop their export markets for fish and fish
products, and face the challenge of satisfying stringent standards in all aspects of fish
handling, processing and packaging, recently established by the importing countries.
 Facilities
Equipment and facilities are not upgraded regularly to deal with expanding fishing
activities and increasing management demands.
 Habitat degradation and pollution
For some time, there have been signs that the fishing communities ecosystem is under
stress (Richards, and Bohnsack, 1990). Degradation of habitat, particularly in the coastal
areas has resulted from uncontrolled coastal development activities mostly associated
with expanding tourist industries and overpopulation problems, as well as extensive sand
mining and deforestation.
  Financial resources
Many fishing communities in Ghana are with limited financial resources. This impact
negatively on their ability to cope with the wide range of issues required for successful
sustainable fisheries development.

Model for sustainable management for Fishery Commission of Ghana

The Fishery Commission is to (a) prepare and keep under continual review, plans for the management
and development of fisheries in waters under the jurisdiction of Ghana; (b) They are to establish
priorities for the utilization of fishery resources which will provide the greatest benefits to the country;
(c) Ensure the proper conservation of the fishery resources through the prevention of over fishing; (d) 
Ensure the monitoring, control and surveillance of the fishery waters; (f) Promote sub regional, regional
and international co-operation in fisheries management, among others. A successful model for
sustainable fisheries management relies on 5 areas, which are:
1. planning
2. making science-based decisions
3. managing environmental impacts
4. enforcing the rules
5. monitoring results
Planning
Management plans should be the main tool for Fishery Commission to ensuring the conservation
and sustainable use of fisheries resources. They guide economically viable and environmentally
sustainable fisheries. A management plan includes important considerations for all aspects of the
fishery, such as:
 outlining the biology and status of the fish stock
 the total amount of fish that can be caught to keep the stock healthy and viable
 the share of the total catch that can be caught by licence holders or the fishing fleet
 setting goals for the fishery, and the management and enforcement approaches to be used
 setting rules for the fishery, like when and where the fishing season can take place and
what types of gear can be used
Management plans include all the factors that lead to good decision making.
Making science-based decisions
Fishery Commission should scientists should be involved in some of the most advanced national
and international research activities taking place in oceans and freshwater today. This includes
studying large areas of the ocean to learn how all the elements of an ecosystem are affected by
human activities, such as fishing.

Fishery Commission of Ghana should rely on the latest data and scientific advice to make
important decisions for the sustainable management of fisheries. To create management plans
that regulate size limits, quotas, seasons and gear, managers require information on:
 the biology of the fish species
 species migration
 species abundance
 other biological and environmental factors
Good decision making comes from collaboration, which is why scientists should work closely
with:
 recognized universities
 science-based international organizations, such as the:
o World Health Organization
o International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
The scientists should also participate in regional fisheries management organizations to share and
improve global scientific research and knowledge. These include the:
 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

Managing environmental impacts

The operation of fisheries affects ocean and freshwater ecosystems. Fishery Commission should
aim for a balance that serves the needs of Ghanaians while managing environmental impacts.
When managing fisheries in Ghana, Fishery Commission should consider the effects of the
fishery on the ecosystem, including:
 fish habitat
  the target fish stock
 the food source for other species (forage species)
 sensitive or unique bottom habitats and ecosystems, such as:
o seamounts
o hot thermal vents
o corals and sponges
 other fish species caught incidentally, including species at risk
o an incidental catch is a fish that’s accidentally caught while targeting another
species

Enforcing the rules

Fishery Commission should spends approximately $1million annually on monitoring, control
and enforcement across Ghana fishing communities. Fishery Commission should have one of the
most advanced programs in the world and these needs to include the following;
 electronic catch monitoring
 licence requirements for fish harvesters
 dockside monitoring services to monitor catch
 independent onboard observers to monitor catch
 electronic monitoring systems for fishing vessels and gear
 legislation and regulations that set out the rules for the fisheries companies
 aerial and at-sea patrols to monitor fishing vessel activity within and beyond Ghana’s
200-mile limit
 more than 630 fishery officers and 108 habitat officers who work across Ghana to ensure
fish harvesters comply with the rules

Monitoring results
Fisheries and the environment change frequently. This is why management plans are regularly
reviewed to ensure that fisheries are sustainable and environmentally responsible. Fishery
Commission should monitor progress in meeting conservation, management and overall
sustainability goals.
Conclusion
Ghanaian governments need to appreciate the social, economic and financial potential of
sustainable fisheries development. Fisheries administrations like the Ministry of Fishery and
Aquaculture Development and Fishery Commission of Ghana need to be given more financial
resources, and properly staffed and equipped to address effectively and completely all aspects of
sustainable fisheries development and management. Additionally, the Fishery Commission of
Ghana in collaboration with fishing communities should recognize the benefit of, and work
towards, regional coordination in fisheries management activities, including sharing of expertise
and resources for education, research, technology, monitoring, control and surveillance activities,
and development of the relevant legislative framework. Having removed constraints to
responsible fishing, fisheries management must then strive to achieve a workable balance
between defined objectives protecting the resource and its environment, and those seeking fair
and equitable distribution of viable economic benefits.