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CRC offers more than 1,200 publications on topics relating to coastal and marine management, including reports, articles, issue briefs, training manuals, policy papers, presentations, and more. You can search all of our publications by keyword, or use the filters below the Search button to filter publications by year, initiative (issue area), project, or location.

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  • 2020 SFMP Annual Progress Report. October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020

    Coastal Resources Center 1 November 2020

    This annual report updates project progress through Year 6 (October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020) and provides information on how partners are contributing to the achievement of project targets and how these achievements will be sustained to meet the overarching goal of SFMP. On May 28, 2020, the SFMP Cooperative Agreement with URI was modified to provide a 7-month cost extension through April 2021. A supplemental Program description was provided with the following result areas elaborated to achieve the goal of the SFMP COVID-19 response initiative: “To prevent the spread and mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 among vulnerable households in fishing communities in Ghana.” Results of this extension are included in this report.

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  • 2020 Status of the small pelagic stocks in Ghana in 2019. Scientific and Technical Working Group

    Lazar, N., Yankson, K., Blay, J., Ofori-Danson, P., Markwei, P., Agbogah, K., Bannerman, P., Sotor, M., Yamoah, K. K., Bilisini, W. B. 1 November 2020

    This report provides an update of the status of the small pelagic fish stocks of Ghana through 2019. It was led by the FSSD, reviewed and validated by the Science and Technical Working Group (STWG). Annual landings of Sardinella aurita have declined from 119515 tonnes. in 1992 to 11,834 tonnes in 2019. This represented only 9.9% of the highest recorded landings. This drastic decline in landings is caused largely by the artisanal fishing fleet, which operates without proper management controls in an open access. In addition, the unit of effort of a canoe is more efficient today than in the past due to advanced technologies, modern fishing nets, powerful engines and big capital investments. For example, the average size of a purse seine was about 200-300 meters long in the 1970s but today it is 3 times larger - between 600-1000 meters in length and the average crew members on a canoe doubled from 10 to 20 fishermen. Canoe gross tonnage and capacity increased by 2.5 fold (from 2 to 5 metric tons) while the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) declined dramatically and the cost and timing of a fishing trip increased as fishermen spend more time searching for fish offshore.

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  • 2020 Co-Management Policy for the Fisheries Sector

    Ghana Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development 1 November 2020

    The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development was established in 2013 and maintained by the Executive Instrument (E.I.28) establishing the Civil Service (Ministries) in 2017. The Ministry, together with the Fisheries Commission, the implementing agency, is committed to a pluralistic approach to managing Ghana's fisheries resources to achieve the mandate of their establishments. The objective set forth in the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Plan as well as other existing national policy plans is to identify co-management as a key element for the management of the fisheries sector and the sustainable management of Ghana’s fisheries resources. To this end, this Fisheries Co-Management Policy has been developed to provide a roadmap for Ghana's fisheries management that transitions from a basically top-down consultative management framework to an approach that provides for some delegation of authority to resource users and other stakeholders in the decision-making processes. There is no one right way for implementing co-management policies and the approach taken in Ghana must consider the unique ecological, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the fisheries industry. This Policy also provides an overview of Ghana's experience to date and lessons learned concerning fisheries co-management including assessment of the current policy and legal regime. It lays out the definition for co-management, the policy goal and objectives as well as the guiding principles for the Policy and its implementation. The Policy further provides the implementation arrangement including institutional roles and responsibilities that ensure a flexible framework that can adapt co-management systems to the unique nature of the various fisheries under the nation's jurisdiction.

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  • 2020 Selection of Locations for Site Based Research. USAID Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project

    Chuku, E. O., Duguma, L., Abrokwah, S., Bah, A., Adotey, J., Effah, E., Adade, R., and Aheto D. W. 1 November 2020

    This report provides documentation of the process used for selection of field research sites in The Gambia and Ghana for the Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project. Three sites were selected in each country based on a list of candidate sites generated. The report provides information on the criteria and process used for site selection, selected information on all the candidate sites, and a brief description of those sites selected for the in-depth field work. All the project implementing partners contributed to preparation of this report.

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  • 2020 Year 7 Work Plan. October 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021

    Coastal Resources Center 1 October 2020

    On May 28, 2020, the SFMP Cooperative Agreement with URI was modified to provide a 7-month cost extension through April 2021. A supplemental Program description was provided with the following result areas elaborated to achieve the goal of the SFMP COVID-19 response initiative: “To prevent the spread and mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 among vulnerable households in fishing communities in Ghana.” COVID 1: Fisherfolk at 300 landing sites, processing and/or fish markets sites better adhere to official COVID-19 disease prevention protocols. COVID 2: Two thousand extremely vulnerable fisheries-dependent households avoid extreme poverty. COVID 3: GoG has evidence on approaches for effective livelihood assistance to fishing communities affected by COVID-19. COVID 4: Cross Cutting Areas: Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships; Gender and Youth; Building for Sustainability. In pursuit of these strategic outcomes, the SFMP COVID-19 response program started working with the 27 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) along the entire coast of Ghana, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD), the Fisheries Commission (FC), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Information (MOI), as well as fisherfolk associations that have membership and respected leaders in almost all 186 fishing villages found along the coast.

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  • 2020 Minutes of SFMP Economic Safety Net Scheme Adhoc Technical Committee Virtual and In-Person Meetings

    Owusu, D., Babanawo, R. 1 September 2020

    These are the meeting notes from the first two meetings of the SFMP Economic Safety Net Scheme Adhoc Technical Committee related to the COVID-19 add-on activity carried out by SFMP.

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  • 2020 COVID-19: Mapping and Baseline Survey of Fish Landing Beaches, Processing Sites and Markets

    Okyere, I., Chuku, E. O., Angnuureng, D. B., Asare, N. K. and Aheto, D.W. ( 1 September 2020

    This survey was carried out by the UCC team to map fish landing beaches, processing sites and markets as well as collect baseline data on handwashing facilities, adherence to social distancing and wearing of facemasks in all coastal fishing communities from July to August, 2020. The activity feeds into building a baseline and developing a database for M&E of the SFMP COVID-19 response, especially for COVID-1 and COVID-2. The main goal is to develop the COVID-19 database into a web-based response tracker disaggregated by locale for effective monitoring and assessment of project activities. With assistance of SFMP implementation partners, landing beaches, processing sites and key fish markets were identified and geo-referenced using the ODK application. The number of handwashing facilities available and additional numbers required, sufficiency of supplies (i.e. soap and water), hand washing, social distancing and wearing of face masks were assessed. About 98% of the sites had inadequate hand washing facilities, with an estimate of over 1,000 additional handwashing buckets required. There was gross disregard for key COVID-19 protocols on hand washing, physical or social distancing and wearing of face masks at most sites, which presents the need for behavior change communication actions at all sites. Details of survey results are presented in this report, and the online database is being developed using the survey data.

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  • 2020 Implementation Plan and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan. Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project

    Coastal Resources Center 1 September 2020

    This project addresses the need for greater attention to food security for women shellfishers and their families while improving biodiversity conservation of the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend. More robust models, tools, approaches and processes are needed to enable and promote these sustainable food systems and natural resource management in coastal West Africa. The project will strengthen the evidence base, increase awareness, and equip stakeholders to adapt and apply successful approaches in areas of high potential for replication and scale-up in the eleven coastal West African countries from Senegal to Nigeria. It will draw on successful cases of a rights-based, ecosystem-based, participatory co-management approach to shellfish management by women in mangrove ecosystems in The Gambia and Ghana developed with USAID assistance. Knowledge and experience generated through the project will open up opportunities for improvement and broader application of these promising approaches in West Africa, This document provides a basic Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan for this research project and an Implementation Plan that details project activities, tasks and milestones to be completed by each partner over the period of performance of the project and links them to the corresponding output and outcome indicators in the MEL Plan.

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  • 2020 Trainer of Trainers of Hen Mpoano Site Advocates on COVID-19: Precautionary measures and appropriate data collection tools to track and assess the SFMP COVID-19 Project

    Hen Mpoano 1 August 2020

    Community Site Advocates (SAs) have been selected in all the 300 fish-landing sites in Ghana to receive training in order to support the execution and monitoring of the implementation of activities at each landing site. As an implementing partner under the SFMP COVID-19 Project, Hen Mpoano organized training for Community Site Advocates in the Western and Greater Accra Regions. Participants for the training were residents of coastal communities selected from six coastal MMDAs in Western and Greater Accra Regions. These Districts are Jomoro Municipal, Ellembelle District and Nzema East Municipal in Western Region; and Ningo-Prampram Ada West and Ada East Districts in the Greater Accra Region. In Western region, Officers of the Regional Fisheries Commission office including the acting Regional Director and the some Zonal officers also participated in the training.

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  • 2020 Report of the Scientific and Techncial Working Group Meeting – July 28-29, 2020

    Scientific and Techncial Working Group (STWG) 28 July 2020

    The meeting of the Science and Technical Working Group was held from July 28-29,2020 at the A&E Hotel in Accra, Ghana. Its main objectives were to: Update members on the status of Ghana’s small pelagic and demersal fish stocks. Update members on biological impact of the closed season. Update members on socio-economic impact of the closed season. Make observations of socio-economic impacts on the artisanal closure of 2019 by FC. Present the trawl gear audits conducted by the FC (Board) and GITA. Present the evaluation methodologies of closed season by KNUST. Discuss adoption of the STWG as a formal scientific advisory body of the FC Board. Develop 2021 management recommendations.

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  • 2020 Training of Handwashing Station Site Advocates From 76 Landing Beaches

    Opare Addo J., Antwi D., Takyi, M., Smith, N. 1 July 2020

    The SFMP COVID-19 Project is essentially important to fishers in helping to reduce the spread of the pandemic among fishers along the coasts of Ghana. As part of the project activities, to provide hand washing equipment at landing beaches, sites advocates are to be trained to effectively manage the hand washing stations at selected landing beaches of the selected project communities. In view of that CEWEFIA organized a one- day training for selected sites advocates in its project communities. The landing beaches in the coastal communities were therefore divided among SFMP implementing partners. CEWEFIA got to work with fishers from seventy-six (76) landing sites in thirty-one (31) fishing communities in the Central Region. The selection of the Site Advocates was done in collaboration with Chief fishermen from the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) based on a set of criteria. The training has the purpose to equip the capacity of the sites advocates on the M&E data collection tool that will be used in monitoring Hand Washing Stations at landing beaches to ascertain behavioral changes. These site advocates have the role of managing the use of the hand washing stations that would be set up in their landing beaches and report to the implementing partner which is CEWEFIA.

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  • 2020 Trainer of Trainers of Development Action Association Site Advocates on COVID-19: Precautionary measures and appropriate data collection tools to track and assess the SFMP COVID-19 Project

    Asare, A. 1 July 2020

    The USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) is a 7-year intervention (2014 - 2021) funded by USAID and seeks to rebuild targeted marine fisheries stocks through the adoption of sustainable fisheries practices. The project works closely with government agencies, fisheries authorities, policy makers and fisher folk in the entire coastal stretch of Ghana to achieve the project goals. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana in March 2020 it was considered that this unanticipated development could have dire consequences on the artisanal fisheries sector which is central to the economy and the livelihoods of 300,000 men and women in over 300 coastal communities given the communal nature of landing fish and the related post-harvest activities. Trainings on the precautionary measures and appropriate data collection tools to track and assess the SFMP COVID-19 Project were held in two (2) batches on the 21st July and 22nd July 2020 in Accra (Kokrobite) at the DAA Fisheries Training Center (DFTC) and Winneba (Central Region) at the Gloriaka Hotel respectively. Participants were selected from the six (6) coastal districts of DAA under the Sustainable Fisheries Management Project with consultations with the chief fishermen of the various landing sites and the Fisheries Commission zonal & field officers.

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  • 2020 Trainer of Trainers of Friends of the Nation Site Advocates on COVID-19 precautionary measures and appropriate data collection tools to track and assess the SFMP COVID-19 Project

    Friends of the Nation 1 July 2020

    Friends of the Nation as an implementing partner of the USAID SFMP COVID-19 organized training for Community Site Advocates from Western and Volta Regions on July 24 and July 30, 2020 in in Pleasure Parks and Gardens in Sekondi and Keta Municipal Assembly in Keta respectively. The objectives of the training were to raise awareness on the SFMP COVID-19 project; enhance participants’ knowledge on COVID-19, mode of transmission and precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus; improve participants understanding and use of the monitoring reporting template and identify implementing challenges and provide solutions. The training was very participatory and interactive facilitated through power-point presentations, video show, practical demonstration, virtual interaction via zoom and plenary discussion.

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  • 2020 SFMP Progress Report. April 1 to June 30, 2020

    Coastal Resources Center 30 June 2020

    This progress report details activities, results, and lessons learned during the third quarter of Project Year 6 (FY20). It also explains how partners contributed to the achievement of targets and how these achievements will be sustained to meet the overarching goal of SFMP.

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  • 2020 SFMP Year 6 Amended and COVID Response Cost Extension Period Work Plan. October 1, 2019 – Sept 30, 2020

    Coastal Resources Center 28 May 2020

    This work plan provides an overview of activities scheduled for the terminal phase of the project including amended activities in the last part of Year 5 and extending into the No-Cost Extension period as well as an extension based on achieving the goal of the SFMP COVID-19 response initiative . Year 5 work was heavily impacted by two slow down notices from USAID that restricted funding availability in the first three quarters of the workplan year. With the no-cost extension approval and receipt of funds up to the agreement ceiling in the third quarter, some Year 5 activities that had been delayed previously have now been refined and captured in this amended Year 5 workplan period below (June – Sept, 2019). Work for the No-Cost Extension Period (Oct 2019 – Sept 2020) is also included. A portion of the work covered in this workplan is also part of the USAID’s Learning Initiative on Women’s Empowerment, Access to Finance, and Sustainable Fisheries. On May 28, 2020, the SFMP Cooperative Agreement with URI was modified to provide a 7-month cost extension through April 2021. A supplemental Program description was provided with the following result areas elaborated to achieve the goal of the SFMP COVID-19 response initiative: “To prevent the spread and mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 among vulnerable households in fishing communities in Ghana.”

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  • 2020 Learning Initiative on Women’s Empowerment, Access to Finance, and Sustainable Fisheries Ghana Case Study

    USAID/SFMP 15 May 2020

    The SFMP case study examines learning questions on two hypotheses in two contexts: (1) small-scale estuarine ecosystems that applied community-based approaches to the management of finfish and oysters, and; (2) a large-scale fishery of migratory small pelagics, consisting mainly of anchovies and sardinella species that is under a national scale and centralized management regime. Interventions implemented through the Learning Initiative in Ghana for both types of fisheries included: • Improving access to finance for women fish processors and traders through the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and facilitating the acquisition of low interest loans from the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre; • Developing women’s leadership skills and promoting gender inclusion in fishery decision-making and benefit sharing; and • Improving businesses of women processors and traders through business, literacy, and improved post-harvest training.

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  • 2020 SFMP Progress Report. January 1 to March 31, 2020

    Coastal Resources Center 31 March 2020

    This progress report details activities, results, and lessons learned during the second quarter of Project Year 6 (FY20). It also explains how partners contributed to the achievement of targets and how these achievements will be sustained to meet the overarching goal of SFMP.

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  • 2020 COMMUNIQUE Fisheries Stakeholder Engagement 2020 Fisher–2–Fisher (F2F) Dialogues Process

    Ghana National Canoe Fishermen’s Council and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development 1 March 2020

    The overall objective of the F2F dialogue process was to create a platform for all fisheries stakeholders to interact and discuss issues pertaining to the sector and reach consensus on key policy decisions and strengthen collaboration between fisheries managers and fishers (resources harvesters and processors). Taking cognizance of the existing and emerging policy and management concerns within the fisheries sector, the 2020 F2F dialogue processes focused on the following issues: • Implementation of the 2020 Closed Season for all fleets including the selection of the most opportune period for this year’s fishing closed season, based on available scientific data, with the view of increasing recruitment of juvenile fish species in order to rebuild the depleted fish stock. • Implementation of the Canoe Identification Card (CIC) System associated with the establishment a moratorium on new entrants to the marine canoe sector. • Preparatory arrangements for the implementation of the Fisheries Co-Management Policy. • Eradication of Illegal transshipment (saiko). The Deliberations among stakeholders reached five key points of agreement.

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  • 2019 Progress Report. October 1 to December 31, 2019

    Coastal Resources Center 31 December 2019

    This progress report details activities, results, and lessons learned during the first quarter of Project Year 6 (FY19). It also explains how partners contributed to the achievement of targets and how these achievements will be sustained to meet the overarching goal of SFMP.

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  • 2019 Status of the small pelagic stocks in Ghana in 2018

    Lazar, N., Yankson, K., Blay, J., Ofori-Danson, P., Markwei, P., Agbogah, K., Bannerman, P., Sotor, M., Yamoah, K. K., Bilisini, W. B. 1 December 2019

    This report provides an update of the status of the small pelagic fish stocks of Ghana through 2017. It was led by the FSSD, reviewed and validated by the Science and Technical Working Group (STWG) in June of 2018. The data used in this assessment were provided by Fisheries Commission/’s Fisheries Scientific and Survey Division (FC/FSSD) and the Fridjoft Nansen survey program. Annual landings of sardinella have declined from 100,000 tonnes. in mid-1990s to 19,000 tonnes. in 2017 as fishing effort increased from 8,000 in 1990 to 13,650 canoes in 2017. This drastic decline in landings is caused largely by the artisanal fishing fleet, which operates without proper management controls in an open access. In addition, the unit of effort of a canoe is more efficient today than in the past due to advanced technologies, modern fishing nets, powerful engines and big capital investments. For example, the average size of a purse seine was about 200-300 meters long in the 1970s but today it is 3 times larger - between 600-1000 meters in length and the average crew members on a canoe doubled from 10 to 20 fishermen. Canoe gross tonnage and capacity increased by 2.5 fold (from 2 to 5 metric tons) while the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) declined dramatically and the cost and timing of a fishing trip increased as fishermen spend more time searching for fish offshore.

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  • 2019 Report on Monitoring of MSMEs Activities in Project Target Communities (Moree And Anlo-Beach).

    Takyi, M. 1 December 2019

    Monitoring, learning and evaluation of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) is part of CEWEFIA year five work plan. In line with that CEWEFIA in the month of October from 1st to 15th October, 2019 embarked on monitoring of MSMES activities implemented so far in 2019 in the project communities; Moree, and Anlo-Beach in Central and Western Region respectively. The monitoring was done by the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Michael Takyi, CEWEFIA. The monitoring covered all the CEWEFIA activities implemented under the USAID/SFMP program so far including campaigns, education, trainings and sensitization programs. Village Savings and Loan groups, fish processing and demonstration centers and Woodlot plantation at Anlo-Beach were also visited.

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  • 2019 Report on Business Development Training for MSMEs at Ekon and Komenda

    Affel, R., Antwi, D., Addo, O. J., Smith, N. 30 November 2019

    As part of the efforts to achieve its vision; (“Improvement of socio-economic status of rural women and wellbeing of children and the community as whole”), CEWEFIA with support from USAID/SFMP organized a Four-Day Business Development Training for fish processors, fishmongers, fishermen, and all those who are engaged in fisheries related businesses in Ekon and Komenda, in Central Region from Monday, 4th November to Thursday 7th November, 2019. The objectives of the training were to improve the business management skills of its members and to assess the need for improved access to finance and advisory support for maximum income.

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  • 2019 Report on the Class-One Standard Training in MOree and Elmina.

    Opare Addo, J. 21 November 2019

    Fish processors from Moree and Elmina were involved in a one-day training held at the CEWEFIA Fish Processing and Training Center on 21st November 2019. The participants were 15 females. The training was facilitated by Mr. Kwame Damoah of Fisheries Commission and staff of CEWEFIA. The first session was used in discussing the class one certification and requirements. Discussions on registration with district assemblies and health certificates were carried out in this session. The second session was used to discuss the various steps in fish processing and the sanitary aspects of each stage. The third sessions was used to discuss proper and improper packaging of fish and fish products. The final session discussed the use of insecticides and pesticides by fish processors in their kitchens and the sale of fish to the various markets. Some issues were also identified during the training and the participants together with the facilitators made recommendations on how best to tackle the issues.

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  • 2019 Annual Progress Report. October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

    Coastal Resources Center, 31 October 2019

    This annual report updates project progress through Year 5 (October 1, 2018 to September 30, 20189) and provides information on how partners are contributing to the achievement of project targets and how these achievements will be sustained to meet the overarching goal of SFMP. One highlight that is key to achieving SFMP’S objectives, is the support for MOFAD/FC to adopt and implement specific management measures to reduce fishing capacity and effort. As part of efforts by MOFAD/FC to address the current rate of decline of the small pelagic stocks, rebuild and sustainably manage it, the Government of Ghana for the first time implemented a closed season for the artisanal and inshore fishery between May 15 – June 15, 2019 as well as an August 1 – September 30 2019 closure for the industrial trawler fishery. SFMP provided financial and technical support to MOFAD/FC to undertake biological and socio-economic surveys to assess the impact of the closure on fish stocks, fisher folk and consumers to inform policy makers on decisions related to implementation of future closed seasons and management of the fisheries resources. While the closures were relatively successful from a compliance perspective

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  • 2019 Assessing the Biological Effects Of The Fisheries Closed Season Implemented For The Artisanal And Semi-Industrial Fisheries in Ghana, 2019

    Lazar, N., Darko, C., Ansong, E., Boateng, K. 1 October 2019

    The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MOFAD) implemented a one month fishing ban for artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries from May 15 to June 15, 2019 to protect the spawning brood stock of small pelagic species, mainly Sardinella aurita, Sardinella maderensis, Engraulis encrasicolus and Scomber colias and reduce fishing effort on these stocks. Following the closed season declaration, the Fisheries Scientific Survey Division of the Fisheries Commission (FC/FSSD) in coordination with the STWG and with the support of the USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP), established a monitoring and evaluation plan to assess the biological and socio-economic effects of the closed season and report the findings back to MOFAD. This report is a progress report on the biological effects of the closed season implemented from May 15 to June 15, 2019

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