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The Initiative’s investments and actions on integrated coastal and fisheries governance to date have been supported in part by the Biodiversity Conservation earmark and contribute directly to
the USAID Ghana Mission Feed the Future Strategies for 2011 to 2015. They also make significant indirect contributions to USAID’s Global Climate Change – Sustainable Landscape
indicators and are serving to build the foundations for long-term impacts under this program. The Initiative seeks to address the major threats to these significant marine and coastal
biodiversity resources which have been identified to include the over-exploitation of marine fisheries resources as well as loss and degradation of biodiverse coastal habitats, among others,
driven by rapid urbanization, extractive uses and shorefront development. Weak governance is seen as the underlying cause to these problems and is thus the focus of the Initiative.
1.3.2 Contribution to Feed the Future FtF
Fish is an important animal protein in the diet of Ghanaians and provides livelihoods to about 10 of Ghanaians. The fisheries, especially the pelagics sardinallas, sustained by the rich
upwelling ocean system of the Gulf of Guinea is the mainstay of the fisheries economy. Much of the fish caught in Ghana’s marine waters is smoked, dried and transported long distances within
Ghana and beyond. Catch statistics for Ghana over the last decade points to a continuing and dramatic decline of total catch. The main cause of this situation is poor governance,
overexploitation, overcapacity and the use of unorthodox methods by fishermen to capture fish. Without improved governance of the fishery, this situation is likely to worsen with consequences
for those who most need it - poor rural fishing and farming households in Ghana.
Figure 3: Low catch of sardinellas
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Since 2009, the Initiative has been working with various stakeholders to identify these critical issues and finding ways to address them. The activities have included interactions at the national
and international levels, prioritizing the issues; building the capacity of fisheries agents and fisher folk leaders, conducting grassroots education, training on law enforcement in the fisheries;
and translation of the fisheries laws, among other activities. Details of these engagements are presented under Component 3 activities section 2.3 of this report.
1.3.3 Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation in Ghana
The six focal districts of the Western Region harbor biologically significant coastal and marine biodiversity assets of Ghana. Many of the wetlands are important nursery grounds for juvenile
fish, critical habitat for migratory waterfowls and a sink for carbon. Also, the sandy shores are nesting areas for 4 endangered marine turtles. The Cape Three Points Forest Reserve the last
coastal rainforest in West Africa has two rare species of primates and floristically among the most biodiverse ecosystem in the country. It is a designated Globally Significant Biodiversity
AreaImportant Bird Area GSBAIBA. Offshore of Cape Three Points is an important calving ground for the humpback whale.
1.3.4 Contribution to Global Change – Sustainable Landscapes
