Ankobra Estuary Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan, Western Region, Ghana
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ANKOBRA ESTUARY COMMUNITY- BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN WESTERN REGION, GHANA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MOFAD) FISHERIES COMMISSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This plan was developed with funding support from the USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project implemented by the Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island. Hen Mpoano assisted the Fisheries Commission in the drafting of this plan based on community meetings facilitated by Hen Mpoano. Gratitude is extended to the following institutions for the various roles they have played: Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission, the University of Cape Coast Centre for Coastal Management, the Nzema East Municipal Assembly and Ellembelle District Assembly of Western Region, the Chiefs and people of Adelekezo, Ajomoro Eshiem, Eziome, Kukuaville and Sanwoma; and the Ankobra Community-Based Fisheries Management Association. Citation: Ghana Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Fisheries Commission. (2020). Ankobra Estuary Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan, Western Region, Ghana. Accra: Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Fisheries Commission. 70 pp. Cover Photos: Upper Left: Bagrid catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodidtatus) harvested in the Ankobra River Upper Right: Fishermen fishing with seine net in the Ankobra River. Bottom Right: Mangrove replanting in Ankobra wetland by Sanwoma community. Bottom Left: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) harvested in the Ankobra River. Photo credit: Hen Mpoano i LIST OF ACRONYMS CSLP USAID Coastal Sustainable Landscape Project EPA Environmental Protection Agency FASDP Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Development Plan FC Fisheries Commission IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MoFAD Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development NAFPTA National Fish Processors and Traders Association NMFMP National Marine Fisheries Management Plan USAID United States Agency for International Development VSLA Village Savings and Loan Association WRC Water Resources Commission ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... i LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................ ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... v CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ..................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Conformity with Existing Legal Frameworks and Plans ................................. 6 2.0 THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT AREA......................................................................... 7 2.1 Boundaries of the Fishery Management Area ................................................. 8 2.2 Description of the Ankobra Basin Ecosystem ................................................10 3.0 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FISHERY ................................................................12 3.1 Biology of priority estuarine fish species.........................................................13 3.1.1 Bagrid catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodidtatus).....................................13 3.1.2 Cassava croaker (Pseudotholithus elongatus) ...............................14 3.1.3 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) ...................................................15 3.2 Status of Ankobra River Estuarine Fishery Resources and Issues in the Fishery ........................................................................................................16 3.3 Harvesting Methods ...........................................................................................18 3.4 Processing ...........................................................................................................22 3.5 Marketing .............................................................................................................23 3.6 Annual calendar of activities in estuarine communities................................23 4.0 VISION, OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES ...................................24 4.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................24 4.2 Management Measures to Achieve Objectives .............................................27 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS ....................................................................34 5.1 Institutional Roles and Responsibilities...........................................................35 5.2 Financial Proposals ............................................................................................37 6.0 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .............................................................................38 7.0 ENFORCEMENT OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES, SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES FOR INFRACTIONS .....................................................................39 7.1 Enforcement of Management Measures.........................................................39 7.2 Sanctions and Penalties for Infractions...........................................................39 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................41 iii ANNEX 1: CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION FROM NZEMA EAST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY............................................................................................................42 ANNEX 2: CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION FROM ELLEMBELLE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY............................................................................................................43 ANNEX 3: LIST OF FISH SPECIES IN THE ANKOBRA ESTUARY AND GEARS USED FOR THEIR HARVESTING ....................................................................44 ANNEX 4: FISHING AREAS OF COMMUNITIES IN THE ANKOBRA ESTUARY ....46 ANNEX 5: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (2021-2024) ........................................................52 ANNEX 6: LIST OF THE ANKOBRA COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT OFFICERS AS OF FEBRUARY 2018 ...............................................................55 ANNEX 7: CONSTITUTION OF THE ANKOBRA COMMUNITY-BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ........................................................................56 ANNEX 8: MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN FOR THE ANKOBRA COMMUNITY-BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT......................................61 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Participatory rural appraisal session with fishermen and fish mongers in the Ankobra.........................................................................................................................4 Figure 2: Study tour to Volta estuary mangrove restoration site .....................................4 Figure 3: Study tour participants experiencing clam processing at Ada ........................5 Figure 4: Village Savings and Loan Association established in Adelekezo as part of initial actions.................................................................................................................5 Figure 5:Launch of a boat to enhance community mobilization and transport on the lower Ankobra River....................................................................................................6 Figure 6: Boundaries of the fisheries management area showing network of tributaries ......................................................................................................................9 Figure 7: Boundaries of Ankobra river basin showing elevation................................... 11 Figure 8: Bagrid catfish: Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus ..................................................... 13 Figure 9: Cassava croaker: Pseudotholithus elongatus................................................. 14 Figure 10: Nile tilapia: Oreochromis niloticus .................................................................. 15 Figure 11: Estimated number of canoes and people fishing in the Ankobra 30 years ago to present ........................................................................................................... 16 Figure 12: Perceived changes in resource conditions by the communities ................ 18 Figure 13: Fishing grounds of estuarine communities and combined overlay showing overlapping fishing areas and exclusive fishing areas ....................................... 19 Figure 14: Monofilament gill net used in the Ankobra estuary ...................................... 20 Figure 15: Fishermen deploying monofilament gill net in the Ankobra estuary ......... 20 Figure 16: A fishermen demonstrating how fingers are used to measure mesh size 21 Figure 17: Fishermen deploying a seine net in the Ankobra estuary .......................... 21 Figure 18: Raffia trap pots used for fishing in the Ankobra estuary ............................. 22 Figure 19: Graphical representation of the current state of the Ankobra .................... 25 iv Figure 20: Graphical representation of the envisioned state of the Ankobra ............. 26 Figure 21: Area and seasonal closure sites ....................................................................