Harmonizing Regional Fisheries Policies Informing the U.S. Government on Key Fisheries Policy Issues in Ghana

13 management practices used at the local level in efforts to help the FC implement its National Marine Fisheries Management Plan. The NMFMP has assigned high priority to actions aimed at improved enforcement of fisheries regulations. HM will complement this effort through coordination with the Fisheries Commission to achieve high compliance with fisheries regulation through coast-wide behavior change communications on good fishing practices. This communication campaign will involve the combination of audio-visual aids including short videos on IUU fishing screened in targeted landing sites where IUU practices are widespread. HM will create community platforms for discussing good fishing practices and encourage peer dialogue among fishermen to unearth strategies for adoption of good practices. Fisheries Watchdog Groups. Following from the Philippines study tour in Year 1 and subsequently by the request of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen’s Council GNCFC to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to form fisheries watchdog committees at the landing beaches, the Hon. Minister has endorsed the formation of the committees at landing beaches. In Year 2, SFMP supported MOFAD and FC to initiate steps to form two pilot watchdog committees in the Greater Accra Region. In Year 3 these committees will serve as extra eyes and ears on the beaches to support law enforcement activities. They will also educate other fishermen on fisheries laws in the community as well as conduct sea borne patrols. With the support of SSG Advisors, strategies, workshopstrainings and manuals will be developed for the effective implementation of the watchdog activities. SFMP, with support from HM, will continue to support the development of the watchdog activities and scale up pilots to the other 3 coastal regions. SFMP will collaborate with MOFADFC to ensure that the FWC becomes a model in fishing communities as it pertains in the Philippines. SSG will also work with Hen Mpoano and the Fisheries Commission to support and oversee the FWC program pilot in two communities, review progress, challenges, and successes and document lessons learned to guide future FWC program implementation and scale up. SFMP will work with the MOFAD and FC to develop a scale-up and sustainability strategy for the program, including exploration of private sector engagement and investments to support and enhance the program. Construction of a FEU post in Elmina . The initial strategy to refurbish an existing structure was abandoned as the old structure is too worn down and its location on the shorefront makes upkeep and maintenance too costly. The FC identified a second site but has not yet obtained paperwork necessary to build on the newly proposed site. Therefore no progress was made on this activity in Year 2. Since the newly proposed site is a few kilometers from the port, SFMP will contract an architect to review and scope possible alternatives at the new site and at the old port facility. Based on this scoping, a choice will need to be made by FC before preparatory activities for construction can begin, including hiring an architect to do detailed designs, bill of quantities, environmental reviews and approvals, etc.

1.3 Harmonizing Regional Fisheries Policies

The SFMP will continue to collaborate with FCWC and CECAF on regional fisheries research and management programs. Pelagic fish stocks are trans-boundary and shared resources extending beyond the borders of Ghana. Recent information on the status of small pelagic stocks reveals it to be overfished across West Africa with the highest levels of overfishing in Ghana. Reversing these trends require high level coordination at the regional level on fisheries research and management. In this context, SFMP will collaborate with the Fisheries Committee for the FCWC and the CECAF to identify the stock structure of round sardinella S. aurita and flat sardinella S maderensis in West Africa. This involves the delineation of population structure of the small pelagic resources, a central piece for rebuilding stock strategies and other fisheries management practices. The SFMP collected DNA samples of these species from 12 countries Morocco, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Gabon, Congo, and Angola. Samples will be analyzed at the Biological Science Department of URI. The study is also part of the capacity building program with UCC IR-2.3 as the student enrolled in the M.S.-Fish genetics program at URI will process samples and address other research questions relative to microsatellite markers of DNA of small pelagics. The SFMP will share the results with the regional collaborators and work with the regional fisheries management in West Africa. The final results will be presented to the CECAF meeting in mid-year 14 along with rebuilding projections and scenarios of small pelagics within the EEZ of Ghana. The countries in the CECAF region will also benefit from these results for the small pelagic fisheries management within each country’s jurisdiction.

1.4 Informing the U.S. Government on Key Fisheries Policy Issues in Ghana

SFMP will brief senior officials in USAID and the Embassy on critical policy issues and challenges affecting the economic health of the fisheries sector in Ghana so they are well informed in their discussions with high-level GoG officials. We will suggest ways that USG assistance can and does support reforms called for in Ghana’s national policy documents and plans. Of special interest will be provision of information on child labor and trafficking in fisheries and IUU fishing as these are two globally important issues of concern to the US Department of State.

1.5 Reducing Child Labor and Trafficking in Fisheries