More Than Income Alone: The Anlo-Ewe Beach Seine Fishery in Ghana

Abstract

Ghanaian artisanal fisheries have dominated the West African coastalregion for over 100 years. Due to natural conditions (upwelling) in theGulf of Guinea, Ghanaian fishers have long been migrating to follow thefish. While migrating, they spread their technical knowledge of boatbuilding and fishing, as well as knowledge of management institutions toother coastal communities. Fish stocks in West Africa and in Ghana arenow in crisis. Due to declining catches, the contributions thatfisheries make to poverty reduction are becoming threatened. Thischapter describes the history and current situation of the Anlo-Ewebeach seine fishers, one of the coastal ethnic groups involved inFishing. This chapter presents four main findings: (1) fishing in WestAfrica is not always a last resort activity which has often beensuggested; (2) artisanal fisheries have been very profitable; (3)fisheries mean more to fishers than earning money it is a way of life;and (4) policies aimed at providing ``alternative{''} livelihoods forfishers to solve problems of resource scarcity are likely to beunsuccessful. This chapter concludes by pointing out how the inclusionof strong artisanal fisheries in fisheries governance is crucial forpreventing stock depletion and growing poverty.