Compensation payment for fisherfolk during closed-season fishing: Lessons from small-scale fisherfolk in Ghana
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Cogent Social Sciences
Abstract
This study contributes to the literature on marine conservation, fisheries
management, and coastal development. The study investigated the distribution
mechanism of government -led compensation payment schemes for small-scale
coastal fisherfolk in Ghana during the closed season. We also sought to explore the
perception of fisherfolk concerning equity and fairness in the distribution of the
compensation scheme. The empirical data consisted of 220 household surveys and
20 in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders from the Central Region of Ghana.
The findings from our study indicate that significant controversies exist about the
selection of beneficiaries for compensation payment. There is a lack of transparency
in the compensation schemes targeting criteria. The distribution process was widely
perceived to be unfair. The results from the study show that there are high levels of
politics and nepotism in compensation distribution. Access to compensation
packages is largely influenced by political party affiliation. A more transparent and
precisely targeted scheme may go a long way to improving perceptions of fairness and compliance. The paper calls for the introduction of alternative livelihoods for
fishing households during the closed season.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Small-scale fisheries, closed season, conservation payment;
Citation
To cite this article: Samuel Nyavor, Sandra Amposah, Victor Owusu & Kwame John Boateng (2023) Compensation payment for fisherfolk during closed-season fishing: Lessons from small-scale fisherfolk in Ghana, Cogent Social Sciences, 9:2, 2282502, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2023.2282502