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The decline of a regional fishing nation: The case of Ghana and West Africa

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  • John Atta‐Mills
  • Jackie Alder
  • Ussif Rashid Sumaila

Abstract

Inadequate trade policies, globalization of the fishing industry, dominance of Europe's distant water fleets, declarations of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) by neighbouring West African nations, overfishing and a lack of good governance contributed to the decline of Ghana as a regional fishing nation, a position it had held since the 18th century. The prohibitive cost of access arrangements limited Ghana's access to distant waters. The country's marine environments have been impacted by overexploitation of stocks and the use of destructive methods. Subsistence fishing has become the sole means of survival for many fishers. The decline of the fishing sector has limited the country's ability to meet domestic demand and threatened the economic and food security of many Ghanaians. The article traces the early history of Ghana's fisheries, their gradual decline during the last four decades, and outlines recommendations for policy changes to address the situation and steer the nation on a course towards sustainable fisheries.

Suggested Citation

  • John Atta‐Mills & Jackie Alder & Ussif Rashid Sumaila, 2004. "The decline of a regional fishing nation: The case of Ghana and West Africa," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 28(1), pages 13-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:28:y:2004:i:1:p:13-21
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0165-0203.2004.00068.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaczynski, Vlad M. & Fluharty, David L., 2002. "European policies in West Africa: who benefits from fisheries agreements?," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 75-93, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Falk Huettmann, 2012. "From Europe to North America into the world and atmosphere: a short review of global footprints and their impacts and predictions," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 289-295, September.
    2. Edward Ebo ONUMAH & Bernhard BRÜMMER & Gabriele HÖRSTGEN-SCHWARK, 2010. "Productivity of the hired and family labour and determinants of technical inefficiency in Ghana's fish farms," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 56(2), pages 79-88.
    3. Dyhia Belhabib & U Rashid Sumaila & Vicky W Y Lam & Dirk Zeller & Philippe Le Billon & Elimane Abou Kane & Daniel Pauly, 2015. "Euros vs. Yuan: Comparing European and Chinese Fishing Access in West Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-22, March.

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