Local Ecological Knowledge, Catch Characteristics, and Evidence of Elasmobranch Depletions in Western Ghana Artisanal Fisheries

Seidu, Issah; Brobbey, Lawrence Kwabena; Danquah, Emmanuel; Oppong, Samuel; Beuningen, David van; Dulvy, Nicholas K.

doi:10.1007/s10745-022-00371-z

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…While older fishers acknowledged the need to take action to preserve certain species, the human dimension factor of shark fisheries and the trade-offs between conservation and socioeconomic objectives need to be considered in the management decision-making process (Booth et al, 2019;Tanna et al, 2021;Seidu et al, 2022b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, industrial fishing vessels, especially foreign trawlers (Belhabib & Divovich, 2014), have been described as 'hammer patches of coastline so hard that fish became locally scarce; a blow to a nation where a million people rely on United Nations food aid' (Angonotícias, 2013;Salopek, 2004). This situation is similar in Congo, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana and many coastal West African countries where incursions by industrial trawlers into zones reserved for artisanal fisheries or even close to established marine protected areas have led to conflicts and complaints that marine resources (including elasmobranchs) are being depleted (Belhabib et al, 2020;Leurs et al, 2021;Momballa, 2020;Seidu et al, 2022b). While certain young fishers suggested there were no declines in catches and sizes of elasmobranchs over time, their perception contrasts with broader concerns expressed by fishers across all age groups.…”

Section: Declines In Angolan Elasmobranch Catches Have Been Attributedmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Many studies have focused on using community‐based social science interview and survey techniques (e.g. Colloca et al, 2020; Jabado et al, 2015; Seidu et al, 2022b). Furthermore, considered a well‐established area of social and ecological research, local ecological knowledge (LEK) provides insight into local attitudes towards species of interest (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, reports have raised the alarm on the impact of fisheries on sharks and rays in other West African countries like Congo and Ghana (e.g. Momballa, 2020; Seidu et al, 2022b). Furthermore, a systematic quantitative assessment of sharks and rays landed by an artisanal fishery in the Republic of the Congo highlights that this region is a hotspot for threatened sharks and rays (Doherty et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have focused on using community-based social science interview and survey techniques (e.g. Colloca et al, 2020;Jabado et al, 2015;Seidu et al, 2022b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fisher perceptions of catch and trade of sharks and rays in Angolan small‐scale fisheries

Soares,

Jabado

2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Small‐scale fisheries ensure food security and employment in Angolan coastal communities. These dynamic, widespread fisheries remain mostly unregulated, with limited data available despite their likely significant impact on marine megafauna. We used an interview‐based survey to investigate local fisher interactions with elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and gather information on utilization, trade and perceptions. All fishers (n = 83) landed elasmobranchs. Most fishers considered sharks as bycatch (74.7%, n = 62), while 100% targeted rays (Order Myliobatiformes), and 62.8% (n = 52) targeted guitarfishes (Order Rhinopristiformes). Over 80% of fishers reported declining catches and sizes of elasmobranchs over the last 30 years, raising concerns about the sustainability of these fisheries. Utilization and trade routes varied depending on elasmobranch products, with exports to China (fins) and local market sales (meat). Specifically, 8.4% (n = 5) of fishers confirmed meat and fin exports to China (4.8%, n = 3). The protection of sharks was considered by 32.5% (n = 30) of respondents, while 21.7% (n = 18) believed only certain shark species should be protected. Most respondents reported that rays (80.5%, n = 67) and guitarfishes (61%, n = 51) should not be protected. Regarding the ban on fishing, none considered it for ray species, with only 6.1% (n = 5) supporting this idea for guitarfishes. We highlight the lack of elasmobranch‐specific conservation measures and the need for a multi‐pronged approach to inform policy. Considering the scale of these fisheries, management actions need to be urgently developed and implemented to ensure the sustainability of elasmobranch fisheries while securing the livelihoods of coastal communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Declines In Angolan Elasmobranch Catches Have Been Attributedmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have focused on using community-based social science interview and survey techniques (e.g. Colloca et al, 2020;Jabado et al, 2015;Seidu et al, 2022b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fisher perceptions of catch and trade of sharks and rays in Angolan small‐scale fisheries

Soares,

Jabado

2024

Aquatic Conservation

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eDNA metabarcoding reveals a rich but threatened and declining elasmobranch community in West Africa’s largest marine protected area, the Banc d’Arguin

de la Hoz Schilling,

Jabado,

Veríssimo

et al. 2024

Conserv Genet

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Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are the most threatened marine vertebrates, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Their population status is often poorly understood due to insufficient information. Despite reportedly harbouring critical elasmobranch habitats, the Banc d’Arguin National Park (PNBA) in Mauritania lacks comprehensive and updated information on the diversity of elasmobranch species in the area. We developed a baseline inventory based on morphological and molecular identification and metabarcoding. DNA barcoding of tissue samples from elasmobranch processing sites and freshly sampled specimens was used to build a genetic reference database of local elasmobranch species. The richness and diversity of species in the PNBA were described via metabarcoding of seawater eDNA samples using an elasmobranch-specific assay and our reference database. We detected 27 species, including 12 new species records for the PNBA. We further uncover potentially undescribed species of Gymnura and Torpedo, while taxonomic corrections are noted for previously reported species. In particular, the reportedly abundant Mustelus mustelus was absent from tissue and eDNA samples, while M. punctulatus was detected instead. Taxa that have anecdotally become regionally extinct or rare (e.g., sawfishes, wedgefishes, lemon sharks) were not detected, highlighting local species diversity shifts within the last few decades. Results show that 67.9% of elasmobranch species in the PNBA are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study emphasises the importance of taxonomic identification in support of species management and provides a baseline to inform future studies and conservation measures to avoid further species losses.

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Practices and informal institutions governing artisanal gillnet fisheries in Western Ghana

Seidu,

Brobbey,

Paul

et al. 2024

Maritime Studies

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Local Ecological Knowledge, Catch Characteristics, and Evidence of Elasmobranch Depletions in Western Ghana Artisanal Fisheries

Cited by 6 publications

References 61 publications

Fisher perceptions of catch and trade of sharks and rays in Angolan small‐scale fisheries

Fisher perceptions of catch and trade of sharks and rays in Angolan small‐scale fisheries

eDNA metabarcoding reveals a rich but threatened and declining elasmobranch community in West Africa’s largest marine protected area, the Banc d’Arguin

Practices and informal institutions governing artisanal gillnet fisheries in Western Ghana

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