@FAOGhana/David Youngs

FAO Small Scale Fisheries Umbrella Programme Supports Implementation of SSF Guidelines

The Participatory management of fisheries supports the sustainable use of aquatic resources. Thus fisheries co-management promotes dialogue and partnership between different stakeholders such as governments, local fishers, and other stakeholders for more sustainable management of fisheries.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Umbrella Programme is working in collaboration with the Government of Ghana to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) through the project entitled: “creating an enabling environment for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries”. One of the key recommendations of the SSF Guidelines is the promotion and adoption of participatory management systems such as co-management, in accordance with national laws, to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources

In Ghana, the first attempt at involving resource users in fisheries co-management started with the establishment of community-based fisheries management committees (CBFMCs) in the late 1990s. However, these CBFMCs faced various challenges including a lack of clear legislative framework, authority or jurisdiction, administrative clarity to engage key stakeholders, inadequate capacity development, and inadequate technical and logistical resources.

To provide guidance, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development/Fisheries Commission adopted a co-management policy framework in 2020, which aims to empower fishers to become active participants in fisheries management, balancing rights and responsibilities, and working in partnership with the government. The policy provides a roadmap for fisheries management that transitions from a top-down management approach to a system that delegates authority to resource users and other stakeholders for management and decision-making based on the unique fisheries system of Ghana.

Therefore FAO is collaborating with the Government to initiate co-management in the Volta River basin with the piloting of the co-creation of Community co-management committees in Akateng, Tapa Abotoase, and Dzemeni. To commence the process of forming the CBFMCs, a Co-management Co-creation workshop is being organized for stakeholders from April 13-14, 2023, in Ho, Volta Region

The FAO - SSF Umbrella Programme is committed to supporting Ghana to implement the SSF Guidelines and promote sustainable small-scale fisheries that contribute to food security, poverty eradication, and ecological conservation. As part of the project, communication products on the SSF Guidelines have been developed in Ghanaian languages and disseminated to raise awareness among stakeholders towards the implementation of the SSF Guidelines.

The project recognizes, Fisheries co-management as a mechanism for power sharing, institution building, enhanced trust and social capital, problem-solving, knowledge-sharing, social learning, collaborative opportunities and encouraging collective action.  Therefore the Co-management Co-creation workshop is deemed as a significant step towards empowering artisanal fishers in Ghana to take an active role in fisheries management.