Project deskription June 2000

Introduction:

The background for the project is a Danida PS-programme project carried out in in Ghana in the period: 1996 - 1998. Process and results are described in the rapport 'Canoe Fishing Project' (June 1998).

This project introduced large meshed fishing nets, new vessels and deep-water technologies. The introduction and trials went well and the Ghanaian fishermen accepted the technologies. The results from the fishing trials were promising but they were carried out with too few nets in a limited area.

Member of the Danish Society for a Living Sea, fisherman Nils Tvilling and Felix Quansar from Ghana have worked as fisheries experts in Ghanaian inshore fishery in 1996 and 1998 with a project supported by Danida private sector programme.  Experience and relations from this project constitute the foundation of this project.

Inspired by The Danish Society for a Living Sea's fishery project in Kazakhstan, they contacted the Society in autumn 1999. They thought experience and procedure from Kazakhstan to be usefull in Ghanaian inshore fishery. Subsequently, they persuaded the board members responsible for the Kazakhi project and co-operation began.

"Puljen til mindre forundersøgelser" administered by 'Projektrådgivningen' in Denmark supported a preliminary investigation which resulted in a signing of a an agreement of co-operation between the Danish Society and GNCFC. The results from the preliminary investigation are used in this application and the document forms an appendix.

Living Sea´s (LLH) partner in Ghana:

Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council [GNCFC] was founded in August 1982

The main aim for GNCFC is to enhance the social conditions for the canoe fishermen. - this aim is obtained by:

·        Organising the fishermen locally.

·        Education and enlightenment about fishermen's civil rights.

·        Identity and responsibility building.

·        To mediate between government authorities and the fishermen.

All Canoe fishermen in Ghana are members of GNCFC and the local fishing chiefs are members of the board. The fishermen do not contribute financially to support work of GNCFC. GNCFC are supported by the government and according to GNCFC and others a neutral body between fishermen and the government.

GNCFC has necessary professional and administrative capacity and for the project, suitable offices and storage facilities conveniently situated centrally in the region. It will be necessary, though to employ 2 - 3 people in order to carry out the project. GNCFC is the canoe fishermen's own council used in negotiations with the government and to support the development of the canoe fishery. The local chiefs meet once every month in Accra. In this way, GNCFC communicate new laws, announcements and initiatives to the fishermen throughout the region.

GNCFC are experienced with fisheries projects, also in co-operation with international donors. In general GNCFC seem experienced and competent.

Project background:

The fishing industry is the sector for this project, more specifically the inshore fisheries sector. Inshore fishery is characterised by being in very close relation with and dependent on nature. This dependency on nature and its resources is determinant for the development of the inshore fishery.

The inshore fleet is characterised by relative small size vessels. This fact entails that the inshore fleet is hindered from fishing by weather, water and wind conditions. Having small vessels, the fishermen have a limited radius of action. This means that the inshore fishermen are completely dependent on the few fish species migrating to inshore waters to spawn.

The above mentioned makes inshore fishery vulnerable in competition with the offshore, more industrialised and technological advanced fishery. Indirectly because the fish is caught before it comes to its spawning grounds. More directly because the offshore fleet enjoys the possibility of fishing in both in- and offshore waters. In this way the offshore fishery has the option of following/chasing the fish throughout the year and through its migration and spawning periods. On the other hand, the inshore fleet has to wait for the fish to arrive within its reach. As the conclusion on this line of arguments it is not wrong to say that the inshore fishermen get what is left for him.

Another trait characterising the inshore fishery is the close connection between the fishery and the land based activities i.e. local economies and social relations such as family etc.

Another significant common denominator important to the fishermen is issues of safety and stability in the small canoes, often launched directly from the beach.

Inshore fishery is very important for Ghana and for the large number of villages dotted a long the 400 kilometre shore line. Inshore fishing is done from dug out canoes most often hauled on the beach or based in the established landing sites or natural harbours i.e. lagoons or estuaries. A rough estimate suggests that 8.000 canoes be operated by 40-50.000 inshore fishermen.

The geographical point of departure is Accra and the harbour of Tema. Approximately 1.000 canoes operate from Tema alone. This harbour and its infrastructure of industry and processing plants are the main target for the project. However, the project addresses the inshore fleet along the coast, both harbour based and beach launched fishery.

Main problems:

Poverty fighting: Fighting against poverty is the bulk of the project. In Ghana, most fishermen are  poor and generally they do not have the means to provide their children with basic education. Generally, fishing families live in houses areas where electricity and running water are rarities. Fishing families are often significantly poorer than the owners of vessels and equipment.

Environment: When consideration of the fishing family is the content (bulk) of the project, consideration of the marine environment and the resource, together with democracy and rights, the ballast of the project. The fishermen must, as soon as possible, edify an understanding of fishery's impact on the marine environment i.e. the fish resources. Not because the fishermen have to protect the fish in the sea, but simply because the resources must be exploited in a more sustainable way. In Ghana, as in all other places, fisheries' impact on maritime ecosystems is determinative for the possible outcome; inshore fishery, in particular is, due to dependent on a healthy and well-managed ecosystem.

Democracy and rights: The above descried cannot be implemented unless the project as such, is founded on values, rights and obligations known from a democratic system. The project will initiate and urge the fishermen to organise themselves and form co-operatives, collectives or other local, regional or national binding communities or partnerships.

In the last 10 to 15 years the Ghanaian inshore fishery has experienced nothing but decline. As many other places in the world there are too few fish and too many fishermen. The inshore fleet target, as does the rest of the Ghanaian fishery, too young fish. The fish is caught before it can reproduce itself, meanwhile they let other species die from age. To target new species would relieve the pressure on the conventional target species. The situation gets even worse because the government put a ban on the logs used for the traditional dugout canoe. With the old canoes, often plastered and patched up, it proves difficult for the fishermen to go further offshore.

The inshore fishermen have set a dangerous course; a trajectory that entails smaller mesh size and consequently smaller fish in the nets. This development hinders a biological sustainable fishery. The Ghanaian inshore fishery is, as in many other places in the world, on its way to destroying itself. In Ghana, the situation is even more blocked because the local home market demands the small and relatively cheap fish.

In other countries, countermoves to turn this fatal trajectory have been taken: To fish on alternative species and to sell the few fish at higher prices. In Ghana the catch, that could realise more money on other markets, is not treated with a proper focus on quality. The quality is poor because the catch is exposed to warmth and sunlight. The Ghanaian fishermen have not yet the proper storing/cooling facilities.

·        The Ghanaian inshore fishery catches too many small fish, at a too low price. The fishery is caught in a fatal course, which they probably can not turn on their own.

·        Due to a lack of funding and motivation about the conditions, the fishermen have not themselves initiated fishery for alternative species. They do not own their vessels or nets and therefore they do not experience the necessary motivation to change and seek new opportunities.

·        The serious lack of knowledge about own impact on the ecosystem, in the Ghanaian inshore fishery sector, is a central problem.

·        The inshore fishermen need independent self-governing institutions and business structures i.e. property forms where the fishermen, individually or inn groups, take ownership of vessels and nets. Furthermore, the fishermen need a proper alternative to the traditional dug out canoe.

 Immediate objectives

1)      Development objective - To promote and support an economical, social and organisatorial development in Ghanaian inshore fishery by:

2)       

3)      Equipping the canoes in order to carry out large scale fishing trials on alternative species; by lending nets and other necessary equipment to the fishermen, suitable for deepwater fishing. By introducing alternative ways of fish handling in order to secure maximum quality and value on the catch

 4)      By introducing new business structures like co-operatives in order to secure canoe and equipment ownership to the fishermen with hopes for a stable and sustainable development.

 5)      Test an alternative strip planked canoe against the traditional dug out canoes in order to evaluate its usefulness. The strip-planked canoe will be equipped with deepwater gear and takes part in the trials along side the traditional dug out canoes.

 6)      Publish newsletters, put up bulletin boards in villages, arrange meetings, and persuade markets to buy the high quality fish, perform fishing trials and carry out a detailed monitoring of results.

 To work for an ecological sustainable exploitation of the fish resources which the Ghanaian inshore fishery depend on, by:

 ·        Take part in the national fisheries related discussions, both regarding the professional issues but also the political debate about management issues. Hopefully the project will contribute to the establishment of a forum for fisheries related issues with focus on a sustainable exploitation and development.

 ·        Present the Ghanaian inshore fishery to the outside world by means of electronic media and to 'link' the Ghanaian fishery to international fisheries and developmental networks. Discuss inshore fishery with the surrounding countries such as Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.

 Point 1 is obtained if:

-         The project by the end of the first year has equipped and launched at least 10 canoes and additional 10 wish to join the project.

-         That all 20 canoes have started fishing with larger mesh sizes and begun to store the fish correctly. That 10 vessels use net haulers.

-         That all obtain higher prices at the markets

-         That all fishermen participate in compulsory interviews about the trials.

-         Point 2 is obtained if:

-         The fishermen express an interest for alternative property structures

-         Some fishermen have started forming co-operatives, collectives, partnerships or other groupings.

-         Fishermen formulate demands and/or solutions to problems inside and outside the fishing industry.

-         Point 3 is obtained if:

-         The strip-planked canoe has been equipped with nets and crew.

-         The canoes have started fishing.

-         Point 4 is obtained when:

-         Information has been published and distributed

-         Bulletin boards informing about the project have been put up in villages.

-         The project's results and perspectives are evaluated and discussed at GNCFC meetings.

-         Fishing trials are running and procedures for monitoring and collecting results is working satisfactorily.

 Target group

The main target group is the 150 - 200 fishermen in the 20 large canoes that participate in the project. Consequently, their families and other social relations will be implicated. The projects clear ambition is that the whole inshore sector will benefit from the results.

In Ghana, the women handle and sell the fish, either as buyers or as salespersons for the fishermen. In many cases, the women own canoes and gear and the fishermen are employees.

Even though the project aims to promote the fishermen's financial independency, it also considers the women's long term needs. Very few people consider the existing system as durable. The necessary changes inevitably question the traditional involvement of the women. On the other hand, the changes this project promotes will not be possible without involving the many women actively.

The women who own fishing gear and vessels are not part of the formulation and application process, but they will be included in the project when it takes off in spring 2001.

When doubt is put to female ownership of gear and vessels it is because this particular tradition hinders the necessary changes. It simply has to be the fishermen who decide where, when and how to fish and what species to target. A development that is based on sustainable exploitation of available resource must start with the fishermen, not the vessel owners.

 Result:

1)      As a result of an extensive discussion in- and outside the project a plan for the first year has been worked out, including a priority of canoes to start out with.

2)      Within the first 6 months of the project, the first container packed with gear arrives. This load contains 1500 nets and 10 complete net-hauling systems. Ready to install.

3)      Within the first year at least 10 canoes are in action, 5 of them with net-haulers. All participating canoes have locally produced thermo boxes for ice storage.

4)      Within the first year, questions about foundation of alternative ownership structures can be answered. A few fishermen or crews have at this point taken the first steps towards foundation of co-operatives.

5)      One strip-planked canoe is included in the project and is operated by a crew experienced with this kind of vessel. Fishing has begun

6)      Within the first year information about the project have been distributed. In the villages of the participating fishermen, bulletin boards have been set up.

7)      Fishing trials have started.

 Task:

The project takes off early 2001. The Danish fisheries co-ordinator takes up residence in Ghana for 2-3 months (the first of six periods spread over the entire project period). First assignment is to establish an office, employ the project workers and to work out a plan of action.

The plan of action is built through the first three months and developed through meetings in the Ghanaian project group. The plan is an important tool for the project because both employees and participators must have a overview of the progress of the project: When is the Danish co-ordinator in Ghana, what has to be done while he is away, who are responsible for what etc. A good deal of time and energy must be invested in this first plan of action.

In the same period, members of the Danish Society will collect and buy the gear and equipment that make up the first container load. The container is shipped in spring 2001.

As soon as the plan of action is approved, the process of entering co-operation and leasing contracts with canoe owners and crews can begin. When the contracts are entered, equipment will be installed on vessels and supplied with the decided number of nets.

The criteria for which vessels and crews can enter the project might have to be adjusted currently. The main criteria are: Size of the canoe, crew qualifications, attitude and interest, vessel owner's interest, geographical placing, landing facilities, marketing possibilities and other logistic.

When the Danish co-ordinator is in Denmark, the local co-ordinator and CNCFC take over the responsibility until the Danish co-ordinator returns. In these periods, the local partner makes sure the equipment and technologies function and solve problems and conflicts if they occur. In these periods, the new quality catch will be introduced on the traditional markets - this will reveal weather of not the market will pay extra for the new catch/product.

In these, with no Danish representatives in Ghana, the Ghanaian partner will be in daily contact with LLH through e-mail.

In the autumn of 2001 the task is, through ex. interviews with the fishermen, to collect and analyse the results obtained during the summer. The Danish co-ordinator will probably also initiate fishing trials, in which he advice about nets, equipment and how it is repaired. The Danish co-ordinator will also give moral support and ideas about how to obtain ownership and influence.

This naturally, does not leave space for a detailed plan of activities. The activities will be influenced and adjusted by the actual fishery, which is influenced by the fishermen, wind- and weather conditions. In addition, the land-based activities need time to absorb and develop alternative ideas about ownership over the means of production.

In this close co-operation between the Danish an d the Ghanaian co-ordinator the results will currently be discussed with regards to changes. The two times each year, when the Danish and the Ghanaian co-ordinator meet in Ghana, results will be discussed and eventual changes carried out. Here, it is obvious to draw on the experiences gathered in the Kazakhi project, which is similar in form.

Promotion is very important. The project will not succeed without a massif promotion effort among the fishermen and in the villages. All means will be used to obtain this end, ex. video recording of fishing trials to be shown in the villages or at GNCFC gatherings.

In the first two years, the effort will be focused on getting all 20 canoes at sea, all using the new equipment and nets. It is important to develop routines about maintenance and repair of new technologies and equipment. This is important because the fishermen, on a later stage, are supposed to take over the full ownership.

After two years, a load of collected and bought equipment will be shipped from Denmark. External donors will finance this load.

The project will keep in touch with the development of alternative types of canoes. A throughout evaluation of the strip planked canoe will be conducted, in order to decide weather or not it is appropriate to continue the development of this type or others.

The final year will either close the project down or prepare phase two. An eventual phase two will directly absorb the gained results regarding the actual fishing but also organisational. Phase two will focus on treating and selling the fish and finding new and profitable markets. Again, the project in Kazakhstan will serve as source of inspiration.

Grenaa June 2000

Kurt Bertelsen Christensen