Where Policy Meets Practice: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fisheries Co-Management Practices in Ghana’s Coastal Regions

Samuel-Richard Kwame Bogobley (), Isaac Okyere () and Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel Karakara ()
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Samuel-Richard Kwame Bogobley: University of Cape Coast, Department of Applied Economics, School of Economics
Isaac Okyere: University of Cape Coast, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel Karakara: University of Cape Coast, Department of Applied Economics, School of Economics

Chapter Chapter 2 in The Blue Economy in African Coastal Communities, Volume I, 2026, pp 21-51 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract This chapter draws from an empirical study that investigates the effectiveness of co-management approaches within Ghana’s artisanal fisheries sector, emphasising collaborative governance between local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders. The research evaluates specific co-management initiatives designed to promote sustainable fisheries management. It examines the organisational dynamics within co-management groups, such as the Landing Beach Enforcement Committee (LaBEC), the Small Pelagic Co-management Committee (SPCC), and the Estuary Co-management Groups set up for the management of the Pra and Lower Volta Estuaries. The study employs a tool developed by Pomeroy et al. (2022) and adopted by the FAO to assess the effectiveness of the identified co-management groups. Utilising a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to source data from selected coastal communities, the study highlights stakeholder interactions, socio-economic benefits, and the contributions of the various co-management groups to the reduction of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The study provides critical insights into optimising co-management practices, informing policy development and institutional reforms necessary for resilient and sustainable fisheries management in Ghana’s blue economy. These insights highlight the potential of co-management as a pathway to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. Policy implications are discussed in the chapter.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-25364-4_2

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