GHANA'S FISHERIES: A STAKEHOLDER'S PERSPECTIVE

Sargassum   Sargassum  is a genus of brown (class  Phaeophyceae ) macroalgae ( seaweed ) in the order  Fucales . Numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical  oceans  of the world, where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. However, the genus may be best known for its planktonic (free-floating) species. While most species within the class Phaeophyceae are predominantly cold water organisms that benefit from nutrients upwelling, the genus Sargassum appears to be an exception to this general rule.  Any number of the normally  benthic  species may take on a  planktonic , often  pelagic  existence after being removed from reefs during rough weather. However, two species ( S. natans  and  S. fluitans ) have become holopelagic — reproducing vegetatively and never attaching to the seafloor during their lifecycle. The  Atlantic Ocean 's  Sargasso Sea  was named after the algae, as it hosts a large amount of  Sargassum. In recent times (act

Small Scale fishermen in Akwidaa, Western Region, Ghana In order to achieve sustainable fishing livelihoods in coastal communities, data on profitability of small-scale fisheries relative to fish species caught and gear types used by fishermen is required as part of a broader fisheries management strategy. This study was undertaken with this in mind. Interviews were conducted among 60 fishermen between February and March 2010. Economic assessment of small-scale fishing activities were done using questionnaires based on direct market pricing and contingent valuation methods. The results indicate that highly profitable fish species include Epinephelus aeneus, Sparus caeruleostictus, Dentex angolensis and Lutjanus goreensis valued at US$2.97, US$2.87, US$2.85 and US$2.63 per kilogram respectively. The less profitable species include Dasyatis margarita, Caranx crysos and Sardinella aurita valued at US$0.34, US$0.66 and US$ 0.85 per kilogram respectively. Although