Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and the Blue Economy: Community Perspectives and Socio-Economic Effects in Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries in Ghana

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains one of the most pressing threats to the sustainability of Ghana’s small-scale fisheries. While its ecological impacts are well documented, less attention has been given to the socio-economic consequences for fishing communities and the ways in which they respond. This chapter addresses that gap by drawing on survey data from 269 fishers across the Western and Volta Regions of Ghana, combined with statistical analysis of socio-demographic and economic variables. The results show that 69.5% of respondents reported a decline in income from fishing due to IUU practices, while 66.3% noted reductions in fish catches per trip. A further 72.8% reported increased operational costs, and 64.6% indicated a reduced ability to save. To cope, 60.2% of fishers reported spending more days at sea, and 47% had to diversify into supplementary activities. Impacts were unevenly distributed: 82% of migrant fishers reported experiencing poverty compared to 60% of non-migrants, and households with high dependency ratios were more likely to engage in IUU practices. Younger and middle-aged fishers also showed greater involvement than older ones. Communities identified stronger law enforcement (83.3%), sensitization on fishing laws (55.8%), and involvement in decision-making (38.3%) as key strategies for addressing IUU fishing. By documenting these differentiated impacts and locally proposed responses, the chapter contributes to debates on fisheries governance and the Blue Economy from below, emphasizing the need for inclusive and legitimate policies that recognize fishers as partners in sustainability.