Title
Local ecological knowledge, catch characteristics, and evidence of elasmobranch depletions in Western Ghana artisanal fisheries
Author(s)
Seidu, Issah; Brobbey, Lawrence K.; Danquah, Emmanuel; Oppong, Samuel K.; van Beuningen, David; Dulvy, Nicholas K.
Published
2022
Publisher
Human Ecology
Abstract
We relied on local knowledge of fishers in five coastal communities in Ghana to investigate ecological factors that affect fishing for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and the changes in the abundance of sharks and rays from 1980 to 2020. We gathered data using participant observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisal techniques. The results revealed fisher’s understanding of six main ecological conditions, which have been applied over the years to improve fishing and maximize fisher catch: season and weather conditions, lunar phase, bait type, presence of seabirds and fish movement, the color of seawater, and sea current. Most elasmobranch species were abundant in 1980 but became severely depleted as of 2020, except Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) and Devil rays (Mobula spp.), shared by the fishers. We found fishers’ local ecological knowledge consistent with scholarly knowledge and call for its inclusion in research, decision-making, and management interventions by biologists and policymakers.
Keywords
Artisanal fisheries; Abundance trend; Marine management; Sharks; Rays; Ghana; Western Africa
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PUB35854