When trash fish is treasure: The case of Ghana in West Africa

Nunoo, F.K.E.; Boateng, Josephine O.; Ahulu, Angela M.; Agyekum, Kwame Adu; Sumaila, U. Rashid

doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2008.10.010

Cited by 42 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Of course, catching and discarding small fish is sacrificing their future growth, a waste both ecologically [55] and economically [2]. Developing bycatch utilization [56,57] or using a wide diversity of gears each targeting different ecosystem components [58] might be better ways forward than striving to avoid catching small-sized individuals and/or species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fishing destabilizes the biomass flow in the marine size spectrum

Rochet

Benoît

2011

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Fishing impacts on marine food webs are predicted by simulations of a size spectrum community model. In this model, predation is determined by predator and prey size and abundance, and drives predator growth and prey mortality. Fishing amplifies temporal oscillations in the biomass flow. Oscillations appear at lower fishing intensity and have wider amplitude when fishing is selective (removes a narrow size range) and/or when large fish are targeted, than when fishing is more balanced (catching a larger size range) or when small fish are targeted. A novel index of size diversity is developed, and is shown to be sensitive to both fishing intensity and selectivity. To avoid unstable food web dynamics with potential harmful consequences for fisheries, limiting both fishing intensity and selectivity might be an appropriate exploitation strategy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fishing destabilizes the biomass flow in the marine size spectrum

Rochet

Benoît

2011

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…The fish is transferred at sea to small canoes for onward sale on land. This reduces wastage of by-catch and has provided an important supply of fish to local markets as well as improved nutritional status and food security, especially in inland areas [59]. A downside of these operations, however, is the observed competition experienced by the small-scale fishers who perceive trawlers to be a threat to the environment and their livelihood [60] as well as habitat damage and direct conflicts over fishing areas.…”

Section: Type 3: Market Spillovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a typology of interactions between small-scale fisheries and global seafood trade

et al. 2016

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a b s t r a c tFish and fish-related products are among the most highly traded commodities globally and the proportion of globally harvested fish that is internationally traded has steadily risen over time. Views on the benefits of international seafood trade diverge, partly as a result from adopting either an aggregate national focus or a focus on local market actors. However, both views generally assume that the trade in question is characterized by export of fisheries resources to international markets. This is potentially misleading as empirical evidence suggests that import of seafood can also have impacts on local SSF dynamics. A systematic analysis of the different ways in which local production systems connect to international seafood markets can therefore help shed more light on why small-scale fisheries exhibit such differences in outcomes as they engage in an increasingly global seafood trade. This paper conducts a synthesis across 24 cases from around the world and develops a typology of small-scale fisheries and how they connect to and interact with international seafood trade. The analysis is based on key features drawn from trade theory regarding how trade interacts with local production. The implications of the findings for social and ecological sustainability of small-scale fisheries are discussed with the aim of identifying further research topics which deserve attention to better inform trade policy for more sustainable fisheries and more just wealth distribution from their trade.

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“…This is either because of their illegal incursion into the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) that is reserved for artisanal fisheries (which appears to be increasing), or because artisan fishers are going further out to sea. In some instances, artisan fishers may buy 'trash' fish (non-targeted by-catch of little or no market value to the trawler companies) from the industrial trawlers (Nunoo et al, 2009). The Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Division of the Fisheries Commission, in collaboration with the Ghana Navy, conduct sea patrols to control industrial fishing vessels from fishing in IEZ.…”

Section: Fisheries and The Impact Of Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Political Economy of Climate Compatible Development: Artisanal Fisheries and Climate Change in Ghana

et al. 2014

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SummaryInterest in prospects for policy processes that contribute to development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, known as 'climate compatible development', has been growing in response to increasing awareness of the impacts of climate change. This paper provides insight into the complex political economy of climate compatible development in Ghana's artisanal fisheries, a sector that has received comparatively little attention in climate change literature and policy processes. It focuses on two contentious policy areas where there is potential for climate compatible development, namely the subsidized premix fuel provided to artisanal fishermen, and mangrove protection. Regarding the premix subsidy, while there is theoretical scope for a 'triple win' outcome by removing the subsidy to reduce incentives to unsustainable fishing and supporting alternative policies, in practice this is highly problematic. Artisanal fishermen strongly oppose removing the subsidy on the grounds that it would damage their livelihoods, and do not have the confidence that they would be appropriately compensated for any hypothetical reform. Moreover, it is argued that removing it could have negative unintended consequences if fishermen are forced into alternative livelihoods that are themselves unsustainable. There is, however, a need to make considerable improvements to the distribution of the premix fuel so that it reaches the intended beneficiaries and is not siphoned off for contraband. Meanwhile, although improved mangrove protection could have significant 'triple-win' benefits, this area suffers from a lack of funding and administrative coordination across ministries and agencies, leading it to be neglected. The case studies reveal, therefore, that the major constraint to climate compatible development is institutional failing, rather than a lack of policies per se. The paper emphasizes the need to conceptualize climate compatible development as a process which is dynamic across space and time, such that potential for triple win outcomes is fluctuate to vary according to changing circumstances. It is necessary to recognize, furthermore, that pressures from a number of actors, including those at the grass roots, may demand short term improvements to current problems rather than aspiring to triple win outcomes in the long term, creating a major challenge for climate compatible development.

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When trash fish is treasure: The case of Ghana in West Africa

Cited by 42 publications

References 3 publications

Fishing destabilizes the biomass flow in the marine size spectrum

Fishing destabilizes the biomass flow in the marine size spectrum

Towards a typology of interactions between small-scale fisheries and global seafood trade

Political Economy of Climate Compatible Development: Artisanal Fisheries and Climate Change in Ghana

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