From fishers to citizen scientists: restoring Ghana’s marine fisheries

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has highlighted the transformative potential of community-led science in rebuilding Ghana’s depleted fisheries. Its new research, alongside the film Citizen Scientists of the Sea, documents how involving fishers directly in monitoring efforts is reshaping both understanding and stewardship within coastal communities.

Ghana’s marine fisheries underpin the livelihoods for millions of people. They provide 80% of the country’s total fish production and are a direct source of food and income for over 200 coastal communities. Yet decades of overfishing and illegal practices have pushed key fish stocks towards collapse. By 2020, nearly all sardinella, (known as the ‘people’s fish’), caught by the industrial trawl fleet fell below the legally accepted minimum size.

To tackle this, ‘closed seasons’ were introduced in 2016, temporarily prohibiting fishing either in specific areas or across entire fisheries to allow stocks to recover and the fisheries to remain sustainable. They are often imposed during the spawning period to give fish a chance to replenish the population. However, their success depends heavily on the support and participation of fishing communities.

Since 2023, the Fisheries Commission of Ghana has partnered with NGOs to train artisanal fishers as “citizen scientists,” equipping them to collect biological data, monitor fish stocks, and share knowledge locally. EJF has assessed this impact and interviewed 120 local fishers involved across eight coastal communities over the last three years.

Through hands-on involvement – measuring and gutting fish, recording data, and engaging peers – participants developed a stronger sense of ownership over conservation efforts. It is reported that after becoming involved, 80% understood the science behind it and felt pride in contributing to the fish population’s recovery. As one fisher, Emmanuel Arthur, told EJF, “I didn’t just measure fish – I explained to others why it was important. That made me feel good and proud to be contributing to protecting our resource.”

EJF’s research suggests that this shift from top-down enforcement to participatory management is critical. When fishers understand and help shape policy, compliance becomes voluntary rather than imposed, with peer-to-peer education amplifying impact across communities. This is echoed by Jacob Okai, Chief Fisherman from Bortianor. “When we are included from the start and understand the rationale behind the policy, we can reach more of our people than the Fisheries Commission.”

The organisation is calling for expanded investment in community-led monitoring, arguing that empowering fishers as co-managers of marine resources is essential to restoring fish populations, securing food systems, and building resilient coastal economies.