Improving conservation of sharks and rays in Ghana through education and sensitization

Ghana is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Sharks Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU requires that listed migratory sharks are conserved through provision of adequate management measures by signatory countries.  However, increasing shark fin trade is driving shark exploitation in Ghana’s territorial waters. This project seeks to increase public understanding of the importance and benefits of sharks to the marine ecosystem and promote implementation of shark conservation policies.  The project will work with the Fisheries Commission to train local fishermen in data collection.  Data collected on shark and ray will inform sustainable management measure designs for these species in Ghana’s territorial waters.  The project will also engage fishing communities through educational campaigns on shark and ray conservation.  This will be critical in ensuring that management action plan developed for the shark and ray fisheries are accepted and owned by fishing communities.