INTRODUCTION GH2014 ACT013 SNV FIN508

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The United States Agency for International Development USAID has committed funds to the implementation of a Sustainable Fisheries Management Project SFMP in Ghana for five years. The objective is to rebuild marine fisheries stocks and catches through adoption of responsible fishing practices. The project will contribute to the Government of Ghana’s fisheries development objectives and USAID’s Feed the Future Initiative. Working closely with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission, USAIDGhana SFMP aims to end overfishing of key stocks important to local food security through a multi-pronged approach:  Improved legal enabling conditions for co-management, use rights and effort- reduction strategies  Strengthened information systems and science-informed decision-making  Increased constituencies that provide the political and public support needed to rebuild fish stocks  Implementation of applied management initiatives for several targeted fisheries ecosystems USAID has selected the Coastal Resources Center CRC at The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography as lead implementer of the SFMP. In leading the project, CRC will work with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission along with a consortium of international and local partners, including SNV Netherlands Development Organization. SNV, as part of the fishing communities livelihood development value chain and post harvest improvement interventions has carried out a baseline or characterization survey of two pilot sites in the Central Region; Apam and Winneba. This survey is supposed to determine the current state or situation in both communities without the project. This will therefore provide a benchmark to evaluating the project progress over time. The survey is broad based covering different components; fishing industry, fish processing, the community, health and sanitation, livelihood alternatives etc.

1.1 Objectives

This assignment is intended to:  Collate baseline data and detailed information on social and economic standards of living of both communities.  The survey seeks to understand the way of life of the people.  Establish a baseline for which the project will work with. 2

2.0 OVERVIEW OF APAM AND WINNEBA