Benefits and Challenges of Record-Keeping Among Small-Scale Fisherfolk in Ghana

Abstract

Though record keeping is a critical component of sustainable fisheries management, it is rarely adopted by fisherfolk in the artisanal fisheries sector of Ghana. This study investigated the benefits and challenges of record-keeping practice by interviewing 173 respondents from inland and marine fishing communities using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) v 27 to identify the benefits and challenges, types of records kept, and predictors of record-keeping practice among fisherfolk. Results indicated that record-keeping practice was more prevalent in marine communities (92.4%) than inland communities (57 %). The main types of records kept by marine fisherfolk were cost of fishing inputs (12.99 %) and profitability (12.99 %) while for inland fisherfolk, dominant records kept were species landed (16.47 %) and profitability (13.45 %). Key benefits of record-keeping practice in both sectors included profitability (Marine, M = 4.85; Inland, M = 4.28) and savings (Marine, M = 4.39; Inland, M = 4.22). Primary constraints of record-keeping practice were lack of training (Marine, M = 4.09; Inland, M = 3.92) and difficulty in data collection (Marine, M = 3.71; Inland, M = 3.75). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed education (OR = 0.044, p < 0.05) and gender (OR = 2.571, p < 0.05) as significant predictors of record-keeping practice among fisherfolk. Based on these results, recommendations to promote record-keeping practice among artisanal fisherfolk in Ghana include training, gender-sensitive and community-driven interventions.