A GNA Feature by Abdullah Afedzi
Accra, June 23, GNA – Artisanal fishers in Ghana have, for generations, relied on the ocean not only for their livelihoods but also as a source of deep ecological knowledge gained through observation and long-standing experience.
Through their trade, they can detect subtle changes in ocean currents, interpret water colour, track bird movements, and observe moon phases to predict fish availability and identify productive fishing grounds.
In some cases, they can even forecast weather conditions simply by observing the shoreline.
However, this rich body of knowledge is often overlooked in formal fisheries management policies. As a result, Ghana’s fisheries continue to face mounting ecological and economic pressures, widely documented in academic and government reports.
Ghana’s fisheries: An industry drowning in crisis
Fish remains a vital source of protein for many Ghanaian households and plays a crucial role in national food security. Unfortunately, Ghana’s small pelagic fish stocks are in deep crisis. Key species such as sardinella, often referred to as “the people’s fish” because of their importance to artisanal fisheries and food security, have experienced sharp declines over the past two decades.
Between 2007 and 2016, Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) recorded up to an 80 per cent drop in sardinella landings, with catches falling from over 120,000 metric tonnes in the late 1990s to less than 20,000 metric tonnes in recent years.
By 2018, Ghana’s small pelagic fishery was officially classified as near collapse.
Several factors have contributed to this decline, including overfishing, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, an increase in the number of canoes, weak enforcement of regulations, and, more recently, climate change.
The challenges facing the fisheries sector have become a major concern for industry stakeholders, including resource managers who often rely on limited empirical scientific data obtained through stock assessments.
Fishers themselves are equally worried about the dwindling stocks. In response, the Government has introduced measures such as the closed fishing season and restrictions on new entrants into the marine artisanal fishery to reduce pressure on fish stocks.
While these policies are important, research suggests they are heavily driven by scientific assessments, often overlooking the valuable knowledge of fishers – the primary resource users.
Artisanal fishers are not just resource users; they hold valuable knowledge
Artisanal fishers possess in-depth ecological knowledge that is dynamic and adaptable to socio-economic, ecological, and technological changes. This knowledge is deeply rooted in their daily interaction with local environmental conditions and aquatic resources.
Interviews conducted with fishers along Ghana’s coast reveal a rich understanding of seasonal patterns and weather behaviour. They describe how they identify spawning periods and track long-term shifts in fish migration.
Fishers rely on natural indicators such as seabird movements, water colour, fish behaviour, sea currents, moon phases, and rainfall patterns to determine fishing grounds.
As one fisher explained, “Sometimes, by putting my feet in the sand at the shore and observing the clouds, I can predict how the weather is going to be.”
Historically, this ecological knowledge played a critical role in fisheries conservation. Many communities enforced traditional fishing bans before festivals, observed “no fishing” days such as Tuesdays, and practised seasonal closures to allow fish populations to recover.
Certain water bodies were also regarded as sacred and remained untouched due to cultural beliefs, effectively serving as protected breeding areas.
When “inclusion” becomes extraction
Globally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of integrating artisanal fishers’ knowledge into fisheries management. Organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) emphasise that fishers offer valuable insights into fishing effort and behaviour, enhancing management strategies.
Despite this recognition, fishers often remain sidelined in policy processes in Ghana. A recurring concern is that their participation in stakeholder meetings and workshops is largely symbolic. Many feel their involvement serves only to fulfil procedural requirements rather than genuinely influence policy decisions.
As one fisher lamented, “We are called to workshops and meetings, but most times, decisions have already been made. If our knowledge is truly valued, it would guide policies rather than just being documented.”
This reflects a broader issue where fishers’ knowledge is only valued after validation by scientific frameworks – a phenomenon scholars describe as “epistemic injustice,” where certain forms of knowledge are undervalued based on their source.
While improved data is often seen as the solution to fisheries management challenges, Ghana’s experience suggests the problem lies more in governance than in knowledge gaps.
Research highlights several structural barriers to effective collaboration, including centralised, top-down decision-making processes, a preference for scientific data over lived experiences, the absence of formal mechanisms for incorporating fishers’ knowledge into policy, and power imbalances, particularly the influence of industrial fishing interests.
Most fishers interviewed expressed strong concerns that industrial operators wield greater influence over policy decisions than artisanal fishers.
At the same time, traditional regulatory systems that once governed fishing practices have weakened over time, giving way to widespread illegal fishing. This has eroded trust between fishers and resource managers.
Fishers increasingly feel that policies are imposed on them rather than developed collaboratively. This lack of trust undermines compliance and reduces policy effectiveness.
When fishers are heard, policies improve
The implementation of the closed fishing season in Ghana provides a clear example of how fisher input can improve policy outcomes.
When the policy was first introduced in 2018, artisanal fishers raised concerns about its timing and called for further consultations.
Following these engagements, the Government adjusted the timing of the closure. This led to greater acceptance and improved compliance among fishers.
This case demonstrates that incorporating fishers’ knowledge into policymaking leads to more effective and widely supported outcomes.
When fishers see their input reflected in decisions, they are more likely to support and enforce those policies.
Conversely, when they are excluded, even well-intentioned measures risk failure.
Looking beyond “integration”
The FAO has called for more participatory management systems that encourage dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, including governments and local fishers.
However, participation alone is often insufficient. In many cases, participation is reduced to mere consultation, where fishers provide input that has little influence on final decisions.
The solution lies not in simply adding fishers’ knowledge into existing frameworks, but in rethinking governance altogether. A relational approach is required; one that treats fishers as partners rather than mere resource users.
This approach should recognise their knowledge as equally important, foster long-term trust and reciprocity, and ensure their contributions genuinely shape policies.
Key questions must therefore be asked: How can governance systems be redesigned to respect multiple ways of knowing? Rather than focusing solely on integrating fishers’ knowledge into science, how can diverse knowledge systems coexist and complement each other?
Why Ghana’s situation matters
Ghana’s experience reflects a broader challenge across Africa and beyond, where small-scale fisheries support millions of livelihoods, yet fish stocks continue to decline.
At the same time, the knowledge of local fishers remains underutilised. As climate change intensifies and fisheries face increasing pressure, harnessing all available knowledge systems is not optional – it is essential.
Charting a different way forward
Ghanaian artisanal fishers are not seeking to replace scientific knowledge. Rather, they want to be recognised as equal partners in managing the resources they depend on.
Their knowledge offers valuable insights, particularly in contexts where scientific data may be limited.
Combining local ecological knowledge with scientific research can lead to more adaptive, legitimate, and effective fisheries management.
Ghana’s effort to rebuild its fisheries sector must go beyond generating better data or enforcing stricter regulations.
It must prioritise governance reforms that acknowledge fishers as key stakeholders who hold valuable knowledge in their own right.
(The writer is a Fisheries Governance and Environmental Policy Researcher and a PhD student at the University of Ottawa).
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe