From open access regime to closed fishing season: Lessons from small-scale coastal fisheries in the Western Region of Ghana

As part of fisheries governance initiatives, conservation has been deployed as an important management strategy in the rebuilding of depleted marine fish stock. However, a major challenge associated with conservation initiatives concerns the lack of participation and broader consultation of relevant local resource users, as well as restricted access to vital community resources. This study investigates the perception of the impacts of a newly introduced seasonal closure on the livelihoods and assets of small-scale coastal fisherfolk in Ghana, as well as the broader issue of local perception of conservation. Based on the conceptual integration of the sustainable livelihoods approach and political ecology insights, a mixed-methods approach was employed consisting of 400 fisherfolk households survey and 42 interviews with key stakeholders. The results reveal that the seasonal closure has led to four main challenges: restricted access to coastal waters, decreased financial capital, decreased fish trading activities and declining small-scale fisheries opportunities. The opinions on the closed season were mostly negative. This can be attributed to the fisherfolk's level of participation and perceived lack of influence in decision-making, the absence of alternative livelihoods and the questionable ecological effectiveness of the closed season. The implications of the findings relate to improving coastal governance and as well as the need to reduce illegal fishing practises. If fisherfolk in sub-Saharan Africa are not sufficiently heard and empowered, drastic measures such as closed seasons are not likely to be effective. The poverty-environment nexus and associated vicious circles cannot be effectively addressed without active local involvement.