13 used for training of marine police in the future. The current facility is not yet ready for use. See
capacity development section 7.1
1.3 Harmonizing Regional Fisheries Policies
Activity Lead: Najih Lazar
Activity Team: Lazar, MFRD
Sardinella stocks are a trans-boundary resource that extends beyond the borders of Ghana from
Nigeria to Liberia with highest abundance between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. Recent information on the status of stock reveals it to be severely overfished while the demand for fish continues to
increase, making Ghana one of the largest importers of fish in the sub-region. Ghana however also harvests of 80 of the small pelagics in the FCWC region.
While the overall strategy for SFMP is founded on a bottom-up fisheries co-management process focused on capacity building of stakeholders and local and national institutions, it is essential to
link it with the regional research and management at the stock range level. It will be based on a process approach in which the bottom-up capacity building will be conducted in the first phases
of the project while supporting on a parallel track of engagement of the FC and stakeholders with the regional efforts of the FCWC on fisheries research, and management. These are needed to
address issues of broader management and contribute to the development of new and innovative regional policies for fisheries management.
Applied research in Year 2 will also focus on the status of the stock and the impact of climate change on the abundance and distribution of Sardinella stocks. The SFMP will also strengthen
national institutions MOFAD and FC to engage and coordinate efforts on fisheries stock assessment and management with the FCWC. This will allow continuous feedback and
coordination on the regional strategy with the management initiatives taken by Ghana on all aspects of fisheries research, and management.
The SFMP will support the participation of selected members of the Fisheries Commission and national scientific and technical working group at the regional meetings of the FCWC. This will
strengthen the capacity of the scientific group, encourage exchange and coordination of information and management measures of Sardinella at the regional level and coordinate efforts
to estimate and combat IUU fishing.
In Year 1, terms of reference were developed for a genetic study to delineate the spatial scale of populations of sardinella in West Africa. Information on stock identification for the purpose of
proper assessment, monitoring and management has been lacking. The spatial structure is assumed to include, based on local knowledge, from the north to the south: the Saharan
upwelling Morocco, the West Africa province Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia and the Gulf of Guinea.
This study will be conducted in collaboration with the FCWC, UCC, FC-Research Division and fishing industry representatives to determine:
Appropriate spatial scale for national and regional management of sardinella Appropriate shares and management responsibilities of countries exploiting same stock.
Appropriate spatial scale for monitoring and assessment. Further enhance links between research, industry and management.
14
1.4 Informing the U.S. Government on Key Fisheries Policy Issues in Ghana
