Biology subjects

Seidu, I.

Publications and source records attributed to Seidu, I..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Fishing for survival: importance of shark fisheries for the livelihoods of coastal communities in Western Ghana

Small-scale shark fisheries support the livelihoods of a large number of coastal communities in developing countries. Shark meat comprises a cheap source of protein and is traded locally in many parts in developing countries, while the skins, oil, and fins are exported to the international market. This study addresses a gap in literature regarding the importance of elasmobranchs to key shark-fishing communities and the degree to which trade in shark products (meat and fins) vary in time and among fishing communities in Ghana. We interviewed 85 fishers and traders involved in shark fisheries in Axim, Dixcove, and Shama communities using semi-structured questionnaires. Fishing was the primary source of income and accounted for 58.5% of the total household income of respondents. Other important economic activities were fish processing (16.0%), fish retailing (13.3%), and small businesses (2.5%). One-third and often two-thirds of respondents generated between 80-100% of their income from shark fisheries: Axim (65%), Dixcove (68%), and Shama (35%). Shark meat consumption was common among fishers and traders and represents a substantial source of protein in the diet of the study communities. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp) and Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) have the most valuable fins and meat. Further, 75% and 95% of fishers and traders, respectively, see fishing and trading of shark meat as their last safety-net and, therefore, tend to be satisfied with their jobs. Non-fishing related livelihood streams including small businesses and transportation were the major fallback activities both fishers and traders preferred to rely on if there is a ban on the exploitation of sharks in Ghana. Overexploitation of these species will compromise food ecosystem functionality and security. Thus, any shark management strategy needs to urgently restraint mortality to sustainable levels, which, in the short-term, must take into consideration the preferred livelihood fallback options outlined by fishers and traders, and implement them to ensure the long-term benefits of the intervention.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2021

Local ecological knowledge, catch characteristics and evidence of elasmobranch depletions in Western Ghana

Local Ecological Knowledge has the potential to improve fishery management by providing new data on the fishing efforts, behavior, and abundance trends of fish and other aquatic animals. Here, we relied on local knowledge of fishers to investigate ecological factors that affect elasmobranch fishers" operations and the changes in stock status of sharks and rays from 1980 to 2020 in five coastal communities in Ghana. Data were gathered from fishers using participant observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisal techniques. The results revealed fisher"s understanding of six main ecological variables, which are mostly applied to enhance their fishing operations: season and weather conditions, lunar phase, bait type, presence of seabirds and fish movement, color of seawater, and sea current. These ecological features have been applied over the years to enhance fishing operations as well as maximize fisher catch. Fishers reported a profound decline in shark and ray catch from 1980 to 2020 and attributed the decline in size, number, and composition of their catch to overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing operations. In general, most shark and ray species were abundant in 1980 but have been severely depleted as of 2020, with the exception of Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) and Devil rays (Mobula spp), which were reported to be common by the interviewed fishers. The first species depleted were the Thresher sharks (Alopiidae), Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), Blackchin Guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus), and Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris), which were depleted early in the 2000s. The next depletions of Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae), Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas), Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus), Stingrays (Fontitrygon spp), and Spineback Guitarfish (Rhinobatos irvinei) occurred in the 2010s. We found Local Ecological Knowledge of fishers to be surprisingly consistent with scholarly knowledge and call for their inclusion in research, decision-making and management interventions by biologists and policy makers.

zoology↗