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• 71. [Article] The Current State of the Clam, Galatea paradoxa, Fishery at the Lower Volta River, Ghana

  The clam, Galatea paradoxa has for decades been an important source of protein to the riparian communities of the lower Volta River and provides employment to about 2000 people, especially women. The fishing ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Current State of the Clam, Galatea paradoxa, Fishery at the Lower Volta River, Ghana Author: Agbeko, N.A., Obirikorang, K.A., Adjei-Boateng, D., Amisah, S., Agbo, N.W. The clam, Galatea paradoxa has for decades been an important source of protein to the riparian communities of the lower Volta River and provides employment to about 2000 people, especially women. The fishing grounds have dwindled from 100 km from the pre-dam era to a narrow stretch of 10 km as a result of the development of sand bars at the estuary. This study was conducted to ascertain the socio-economic importance of the clam fishery to the people of the lower Volta, Ghana. The research found out that there were 251 fishing canoes and 503 fishers engaged in the clam fishery. The average daily catch per fishing canoe was 130 kg of clams, with an annual harvest of 7700 tonnes worth 4,620,408 Ghana Cedis. Commercial extinction of G. paradoxa is imminent in the lower Volta as a result of habitat alteration and overfishing. There is the need to put in place a sustainable harvesting measure that will target medium to large size clams against the current situation where the catch is dominated by smaller clams. It is recommended that a minimum landing size of 50 mm should be imposed. This should be done in consultation with the chiefs and traditional authorities in the communities which have managed the fishery to date. The marketing of clams below the 50 mm shell length limit should be abolished and enforced by the traditional authorities. Secondly, the farming of smaller clams, which is a traditional activity in the estuary, should be encouraged so that fishers who harvest undersize clams can seed them onto their culture plots. Title: The Current State of the Clam, Galatea paradoxa, Fishery at the Lower Volta River, Ghana Author: Agbeko, N.A., Obirikorang, K.A., Adjei-Boateng, D., Amisah, S., Agbo, N.W. The clam, Galatea paradoxa has for decades been an important source of protein to the riparian communities of the lower Volta River and provides employment to about 2000 people, especially women. The fishing grounds have dwindled from 100 km from the pre-dam era to a narrow stretch of 10 km as a result of the development of sand bars at the estuary. This study was conducted to ascertain the socio-economic importance of the clam fishery to the people of the lower Volta, Ghana. The research found out that there were 251 fishing canoes and 503 fishers engaged in the clam fishery. The average daily catch per fishing canoe was 130 kg of clams, with an annual harvest of 7700 tonnes worth 4,620,408 Ghana Cedis. Commercial extinction of G. paradoxa is imminent in the lower Volta as a result of habitat alteration and overfishing. There is the need to put in place a sustainable harvesting measure that will target medium to large size clams against the current situation where the catch is dominated by smaller clams. It is recommended that a minimum landing size of 50 mm should be imposed. This should be done in consultation with the chiefs and traditional authorities in the communities which have managed the fishery to date. The marketing of clams below the 50 mm shell length limit should be abolished and enforced by the traditional authorities. Secondly, the farming of smaller clams, which is a traditional activity in the estuary, should be encouraged so that fishers who harvest undersize clams can seed them onto their culture plots. Close

• 72. [Article] Conflict in Fishery Resource Utilization: The Case of Light Luring Anchovy Fishery in Thailand

  In late 1999 Artisanal Fisherman Association in Thailand requested the government to take actions in curbing destructive anchovy fishing gears. They believed that anchovy fishing was the main cause of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Conflict in Fishery Resource Utilization: The Case of Light Luring Anchovy Fishery in Thailand Author: Tokrisna, Ruangrai Year: 2001 In late 1999 Artisanal Fisherman Association in Thailand requested the government to take actions in curbing destructive anchovy fishing gears. They believed that anchovy fishing was the main cause of fishery resource depletion in their fishing grounds. Main anchovy fishing gears were light luring falling net, purse seine, and scoop net. All of them are Juvenile bycatch varied from 1.72 – 30.37% of total catches depending on gear type, vessel size, fishing ground, fishing month, and fishing year. Economic losses of juvenile bycatch were $1 – 331/boat/trip. In Songkhla, the crisis problem area, economic losses from light luring falling net were as high as 0.42 – 7.64 times of the return from anchovy. The losses from light luring anchovy purse seine were 23 – 35% of the return from anchovy. The losses from light luring scoop net varied around 2 – 7%. Anchovy catch values in Thailand was $26 million in 1997. Value added from processing was $65 million, mainly from fish sauce. In spite of low value added, 59% of the catches were processed as boiled-dried/dried anchovy mainly for export. 44% of the anchovy value in the importing country were the trade margins, including tax, in importing country. Fishing cost was 20%. This cost estimation did not include the economic loss from juvenile bycatch. Processing and marketing costs in Thailand amounted to 19%. Profit margins for domestic fishermen, processors and traders added up to 17%. Thailand might have been exporting anchovy at an underpaid resource value. The relatively better return from anchovy had led to rapid increase in anchovy fishing effort. If fishing effort exceeded carrying capacity especially in habitats of juvenile economic species, it could lead to decrease in fishing income due to resource depletion not only for artisanal fishermen but anchovy fishermen as well. Recommendations were to determine optimum fishing effort in specific fishing grounds and control the effort. Where there had been overfishing, auction on fishing license and fee on anchovy fishing on the basis of economic loss could be introduced. Coastal community should take part in controlling anchovy fishing effort. Relocation of artisanal fishermen through training and support on initial investment in nonfishing sector was recommended. Title: Conflict in Fishery Resource Utilization: The Case of Light Luring Anchovy Fishery in Thailand Author: Tokrisna, Ruangrai Year: 2001 In late 1999 Artisanal Fisherman Association in Thailand requested the government to take actions in curbing destructive anchovy fishing gears. They believed that anchovy fishing was the main cause of fishery resource depletion in their fishing grounds. Main anchovy fishing gears were light luring falling net, purse seine, and scoop net. All of them are Juvenile bycatch varied from 1.72 – 30.37% of total catches depending on gear type, vessel size, fishing ground, fishing month, and fishing year. Economic losses of juvenile bycatch were $1 – 331/boat/trip. In Songkhla, the crisis problem area, economic losses from light luring falling net were as high as 0.42 – 7.64 times of the return from anchovy. The losses from light luring anchovy purse seine were 23 – 35% of the return from anchovy. The losses from light luring scoop net varied around 2 – 7%. Anchovy catch values in Thailand was $26 million in 1997. Value added from processing was $65 million, mainly from fish sauce. In spite of low value added, 59% of the catches were processed as boiled-dried/dried anchovy mainly for export. 44% of the anchovy value in the importing country were the trade margins, including tax, in importing country. Fishing cost was 20%. This cost estimation did not include the economic loss from juvenile bycatch. Processing and marketing costs in Thailand amounted to 19%. Profit margins for domestic fishermen, processors and traders added up to 17%. Thailand might have been exporting anchovy at an underpaid resource value. The relatively better return from anchovy had led to rapid increase in anchovy fishing effort. If fishing effort exceeded carrying capacity especially in habitats of juvenile economic species, it could lead to decrease in fishing income due to resource depletion not only for artisanal fishermen but anchovy fishermen as well. Recommendations were to determine optimum fishing effort in specific fishing grounds and control the effort. Where there had been overfishing, auction on fishing license and fee on anchovy fishing on the basis of economic loss could be introduced. Coastal community should take part in controlling anchovy fishing effort. Relocation of artisanal fishermen through training and support on initial investment in nonfishing sector was recommended. Close

• 73. [Article] Assessing Policies Promoting Poverty Alleviation and Marine Resource Sustainability in Impoverished Coastal Communities

  Full article is forthcoming in African Geographical Review.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing Policies Promoting Poverty Alleviation and Marine Resource Sustainability in Impoverished Coastal Communities Author: Stern, Michelle Full article is forthcoming in African Geographical Review. Title: Assessing Policies Promoting Poverty Alleviation and Marine Resource Sustainability in Impoverished Coastal Communities Author: Stern, Michelle Full article is forthcoming in African Geographical Review. Close