SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PROJECT (SFMP)

ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION IMPACTS OF THE 2019 CLOSED FISHING SEASON IN

November 2019

This publication is available electronically in the following locations: The Coastal Resources Center http://www.crc.uri.edu/projects_page/ghanasfmp/ Ghanalinks.org https://ghanalinks.org/elibrarysearch term: SFMP USAID Development Clearing House https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/search.aspx search term: Ghana SFMP

For more information on the Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, contact: USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project Coastal Resources Center Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rhode Island 220 South Ferry Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 USA Tel: 401-874-6224 Fax: 401-874-6920 Email: [email protected]

Citation: Ofori-Danson, P.K., Asiedu, B., Amponsah, S.K.K., Crawford, B. (2019). Assessment of the Socio-Economic, Food Security and Nutrition Impacts of the 2019 Canoe Fishery Closed Fishing Season in Ghana. USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project. Narragansett, RI: Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. GH2014_SCI076_CRC. 109 pp.

Authority/Disclaimer: Prepared for USAID/Ghana under Cooperative Agreement (AID-641-A-15-00001), awarded on October 22, 2014 to the University of Rhode Island, and entitled the USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP). This document is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views expressed and opinions contained in this report are those of the SFMP team and are not intended as statements of policy of either USAID or the cooperating organizations. As such, the contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the SFMP team and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Cover photo: Top: Focus group discussions with fish processors at Keta and Bortainor. Bottom: boats on shore demonstrating compliance with the closed season at Nungua Landing Beach. Photo credit: Samuel K.K. Amponsah

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Detailed Partner Contact Information: USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) 10 Obodai St., Mempeasem, East Legon, Accra, Ghana

Raymond Babanawo Chief of Party Email: [email protected] Enoch Appiah Deputy Chief of Party Email: [email protected] Kofi Agbogah Senior Fisheries Advisor Email: [email protected] Perfectual Labik Communications Officer Email: [email protected] Mary Asare M&E Officer Email: [email protected] Brian Crawford Project Manager, CRC Email: [email protected] Ellis Ekekpi USAID AOR Email: [email protected]

Hen Mpoano Resonance 38 J. Cross Cole St. Windy Ridge (Formerly SSG Advisors) Takoradi, Ghana 182 Main Street +233 312 020 701 Burlington, VT 05401 Kofi Agbogah +1 (802) 735-1162 [email protected] Nick McClure [email protected] Friends of the Nation Parks and Gardens CEWEFIA Adiembra-Sekondi, Ghana B342 Bronyibima Estate +233 312 046 180 Elmina, Ghana Donkris Mevuta +233 024 427 8377 Kyei Yamoah Victoria C. Koomson [email protected] [email protected]

Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) Development Action Association (DAA) University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Darkuman Junction, Kaneshie Odokor Ghana Highway +233 242910056 Accra, Ghana Denis Aheto: [email protected] +233 302 315894 Lydia Sasu [email protected]

For additional information on partner activities: CCM/UCC https://ccm.ucc.edu.gh/ CEWEFIA http://cewefia.weebly.com/ CRC/URI http://www.crc.uri.edu DAA http://womenthrive.org/development-action-association-daa Friends of the Nation http://www.fonghana.org Hen Mpoano http://www.henmpoano.org Resonance Global https://resonanceglobal.com/

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ACRONYMS

ALOs Alternative Livelihood Options ANOVA Analysis of Variance CCRF FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FC Fisheries Commission of Ghana FGD Focus Group Discussion GHS Ghana Cedis HHS Household Hunger Scale IUU Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing KII Key Informant Interview M & E Monitoring and Evaluation MOFAD Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development MS Microsoft NAFAG National Fisheries Association of Ghana NAFPTA National Fish Processors and Traders’ Association NFMP National Fisheries Management Plan of Ghana PBS Population Based Survey SFMP Sustainable Fisheries and Management Project STWG Scientific and Technical Working Group URI University of Rhode Island USAID United States Agency for International Development WDDS Women’s Dietary Diversity Score

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page ACRONYMS ...... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... iv LIST OF TABLES ...... vi LIST OF FIGURES ...... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 Introduction ...... 1 Socio-economic impacts of the closure on fisherfolks and their households ...... 1 Impacts of the closure on food and nutrition...... 2 Communication on the closed season ...... 3 Fisherfolk opinions for government action and support ...... 3 Perceptions of compliance with the closed season...... 3 Recommendations ...... 3 Reduce Uncertainty ...... 3 Securing livelihoods ...... 3 Ensuring food security during closures ...... 4 Improving communications with stakeholders about future closed seasons ...... 4 Adoption of an adaptive fisheries management approach ...... 4 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5 1.1 Objectives and Scope ...... 6 2. METHODOLOGY ...... 7 2.1 Description of Methodology ...... 7 2.1.1 Literature review and desktop work ...... 7 2.1.2 Research instruments and indicators ...... 7 2.2 Data Analysis ...... 15 3. RESULTS ...... 16 3.1 Literature Review ...... 16 3.1.1 Seasonal fishing closures ...... 16 3.1.2 Socio-economic impact of seasonal fishing closure ...... 16 3.2 Focus Group Discussion ...... 18 3.2.1 Institutionalization of the closed season ...... 18 3.2.2 Socio-economic impact ...... 18 3.3 Key Informant Interview (KII) ...... 18 3.3.1 Impact on family members ...... 18

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3.3.2 Impact on income ...... 19 3.3.3 Impact on spouse ...... 19 3.3.4 Impact on children ...... 19 3.3.5 Impact on poverty level ...... 19 3.4 Survey Questionnaire ...... 20 3.4.1 Socio-demographics ...... 20 3.4.2 Fishing gears used ...... 22 3.4.3 Type of trader ...... 23 3.4.4 Number of fish smoking ovens ...... 23 3.4.5 Livelihood impacts of the closed season ...... 23 3.4.6 Changes in income...... 26 3.4.7 Food security ...... 32 3.4.8 Communications ...... 36 3.4.9 Fisherfolk Perceptions on Compliance ...... 45 3.4.10 Fisherfolk Opinions for Government Action and Support ...... 46 4. DISCUSSION ...... 48 4.1 Livelihood and Income Impacts ...... 48 4.2 Food Security Impacts ...... 51 4.2.1 Household hunger ...... 51 4.2.2 Women’s dietary diversity ...... 51 4.2.3 Changes in food consumption types ...... 52 4.2.4 Fish imports ...... 53 4.2.5 Migration as a coping strategy...... 54 4.3 Communications Impacts ...... 55 4.3.1 Sources of information on the closed season ...... 55 4.3.2 Purpose of the closed season ...... 55 4.3.3 Duration of the closure ...... 55 4.3.4 Timing of the closure ...... 56 4.3.5 Perceptions on the benefits of the closed season ...... 56 4.3.6 Perceptions on government interventions...... 56 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 57 Standardize the annual period of the closure ...... 57 Securing livelihoods ...... 57 Ensuring food security ...... 60 Improving communications with stakeholders ...... 61 Adoption of adaptive management ...... 61

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 63 REFERENCES ...... 64 APPENDIX I: GUIDES FOR FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS ...... 68 APPENDIX II: EXCEL PROGRAM SHEETS FOR THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT...... 73 Survey Sheet ...... 73 Choices Sheet ...... 88 Settings Sheet ...... 98 APPENDIX III: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON SURVEY INDICATORS AND APPROACH ...... 99

LIST OF TABLES

Page Table 1: Communities sampled fr