Practices and informal institutions governing artisanal gillnet fisheries in Western Ghana

IF 2.2 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Issah Seidu, Lawrence K. Brobbey, Osei-Tutu Paul, David van Beuningen, Moro Seidu, Nicholas K. Dulvy
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Abstract

Understanding the informal institutions arising from cultural norms, taboos, and beliefs can improve conservation efforts and resource management in Africa. However, little is known of their potential for governing the management of artisanal gillnet fisheries, as well as, the practices and activities of fishers in Ghana. Here, we explore the practices of artisanal gillnet fishers landing shark and ray as their major components and the informal institutions governing the management of these fisheries. We interviewed 33 active and retired fishers in five fishing communities in Western Ghana, complemented with participant observations to collect data for the study. While fishing effort and the financing of fishing trips vary between fishers using drift gillnets and bottomset gillnets, the sharing systems and payment of crew members are relatively uniform in both fisheries and across the study communities. Despite the absence of state regulation, the species-specific taboos recorded offer protection for Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) and whales (Cetacea), which are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The role of modern religions (like Christianity and Islam) and the influx of different people with different values, beliefs, and cultures explain the erosion of some resource management taboos and beliefs. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of officially recognizing these informal institutions as legitimate institutions for the effective management of imperiled marine species targeted by gillnet fishers at the local level.

Abstract Image

管理加纳西部个体刺网渔业的做法和非正式机构
了解由文化规范、禁忌和信仰产生的非正式制度可以改善非洲的保护工作和资源管理。然而,人们对它们在管理个体刺网渔业方面的潜力以及加纳渔民的做法和活动知之甚少。在此,我们探讨了以鲨鱼和鳐鱼为主要捕捞对象的个体刺网渔民的做法,以及管理这些渔业的非正式机构。我们采访了加纳西部五个渔业社区的 33 名在业渔民和退休渔民,并辅以参与观察来收集研究数据。虽然使用流刺网和底层刺网的渔民的捕鱼量和出海捕鱼的资金来源各不相同,但在两种渔业和研究社区中,船员的分享制度和报酬相对统一。尽管没有国家法规,但所记录的针对特定物种的禁忌为鲸鲨(Rhincodon typus)和鲸鱼(Cetacea)提供了保护,国际自然保护联盟认为鲸鲨和鲸鱼已受到威胁。现代宗教(如基督教和伊斯兰教)的作用以及具有不同价值观、信仰和文化的不同人群的涌入,解释了一些资源管理禁忌和信仰受到侵蚀的原因。这项研究的结果表明,必须正式承认这些非正式机构为合法机构,以便在地方一级有效管理刺网捕鱼者捕捞的濒危海洋物种。
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来源期刊
Maritime Studies
Maritime Studies ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-
CiteScore
4.90
自引率
11.80%
发文量
37
期刊介绍: Maritime Studies is an international peer-reviewed journal on the social dimensions of coastal and marine issues throughout the world. The journal is a venue for theoretical and empirical research relevant to a wide range of academic social science disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, geography, history and political science. Space is especially given to develop academic concepts and debate. We invite original research papers, reviews and viewpoints and welcome proposals for special issues that make a distinctive contribution to contemporary discussion around maritime and coastal use, development and governance. The journal provides a rigorous but constructive review process and rapid publication, and is accessible to new researchers, including postgraduate students and early career academics.
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