Kofi Ampeah Woode
A renowned Marine Conservationist – Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood paid a courtesy call on the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Rear Admiral (R/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu to share her research findings on Ghana’s fisheries sector.
Dr. Okafor-Yarwood, a Pew Marine Fellow and a Lecturer in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of Saint Andrews, United Kingdom, briefed R/ Adm Yakubu on Wednesday 31 July 2024 at the Naval Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra on her research, which highlights the gender dimension of marine conservation, and the devastating effects of the closed fishing seasons that threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The research also seeks to explore what lessons that can be learnt from historical ecological knowledge on marine conservation.
The CNS commended Dr Okafor-Yarwood for her tireless efforts in promoting sustainable fisheries management in Ghana through her research findings, saying, “Your research is timely and crucial in informing our efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and protect our maritime resources”.
Admiral Yakubu advocated for the integration of customs and traditional practices in marine conservation efforts, noting that traditional fishing communities have valuable knowledge and practices that can inform and enhance marine conservation.
He called for the creation of alternative livelihood opportunities for the fisher folks during the Closed Fishing Seasons, to help mitigate the economic impact of fishing closures on coastal communities.
Dr Okafor-Yarwood, who was accompanied by her research advisor – Mr Kwesi Randolf, thanked the CNS for the warm reception and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between researchers, policymakers, and security agencies, to address the complex issues surrounding fisheries sector.
Credit: GHANA NAVY PR
