Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Fisheries governance: Addressing fisheries versus petroleum extraction industry conflicts in Ghanas western region

2^nd International Conference on Food Security and Sustainability

June 26-27, 2017 San Diego, USA

Moses Adjei

University of Bergen, Norway

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Ghana began commercial oil and gas production in the year 2010 in the countryâ??s southwestern coast where fishing is an important economic activity. There have been growing concerns especially from the coastal fishing communities about the negative impacts of the petroleum extraction activities on their fish catch and general livelihoods. This study sought to understand how the fisheries governance institutions in Ghana (at the local, regional and national levels) are addressing the concerns and conflicts regarding the impacts of petroleum extraction activities on fishing in Ghana. Adopting a qualitative, phenomenological approach, data were produced from 35 informants in the fisheries, petroleum and local (traditional) as well as governmental fisheries governance institutions in Ghana through participant observations, group interviews and key informantâ??s interviews. It emerged that, development programs such as; the provision safe drinking water facilities, improved fish smoking ovens and scholarships have been undertaken by the petroleum industry especially within nearby communities. Irrespective of these, various concerns were expressed about the negative impacts of petroleum extraction which fisher folks interviewed linked to the declining fish catch. Such concerns include: reduced access to fishing grounds, collision of canoes with oil transporting vessels, attraction of fish by lights on the oil rigs as well as maltreatment of fishermen offshore by officers of the fisheries enforcement unit in Ghana. However, the above concerns were viewed differently by the various stakeholder groups in the fishery and petroleum industry as well as the traditional and government institutions. Implications for the various stakeholder groups in the resolution of the above concerns are discussed.

Biography :

Email: adjeimoses20@gmail.com