By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, Feb. 04, GNA – The Creating Synergies between Indigenous Practices and Scientific Knowledge (ISIPSK), also known as the Sankofa project report, has revealed that fisherfolk with alternative sources of income are better able to withstand the economic shocks associated with the annual fishing closed season.
The ISIPSK project, which was led by the University of St Andrews in collaboration with Ghana’s Fisheries Commission and other stakeholders, found that fisherfolk who engaged in supplementary ventures such as transport services, cold storage operations, trading and artisanal processing experienced fewer adverse effects during the closure.
In Tema, some women fish traders reported storing fish in freezers ahead of the closed season to maintain sales and cash flow during the period.
“Since we still have some income during the closure, we are not badly affected,” one trader said during a focus group discussion.
It noted that, by contrast, households who depended solely on fishing faced severe hardship, often resorting to borrowing or depleting savings to survive the month-long break.
The report recommended targeted livelihood support programmes, particularly for older fisherfolk aged 65 years and above, to reduce vulnerability and discourage engagement in environmentally destructive activities.
It found that incidents of theft, burglary, gambling and fraud increased during the closure period, largely due to unemployment and income loss among fisherfolk.
The Sankofa study also reported that some youth travelled to illegal mining sites during the period, with several returning ill and others reportedly losing their lives.
Researchers warned that without adequate livelihood support and enforcement against illegal fishing, the closed season could undermine both community safety and environmental sustainability.
They urged policymakers to adopt a more holistic approach that combines conservation measures with social protection, law enforcement and community engagement.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba