Largely, the exploitation of shellfisheries in Ghana has not been accounted for, partly because it is assumed the fishery is not lucrative enough, leading to its neglect in the country’s annual fish production estimation and the necessary interventions for sustained food production and income generation along the coast, especially for women. Shellfisheries provide livelihoods and a cheap source of protein and micronutrients to many coastal dwellers.

Common shellfisheries along the coast of Ghana are bivalves, gastropods, and crustaceans. The West African mangrove oyster (Crassostrea tulipa), West African mud creeper/periwinkle(Tympanotonus fuscatus) and whelk (Pugilina morio) are the most important species by harvest across the study sites. The bivalves and gastropods are exploited by handpicking or diving with improvised footwear. Some crabs (e.g., Cardisoma armatum) are collected by deploying traps with bait. Generally, shellfish are harvested during the dry season from November to March/April, depending on the month the rains begin, while T. fuscatus is harvested year-round in most sites. Nonetheless, the harvesting period for C. tulipa coincides with the rainy season in the Densu Delta, and shellfishers in the Volta Estuary (Tunu) also exploit oysters during the rainy months.

Women are extensively engaged in the harvesting, processing, and trading of the shellfisheries, while men play harvesting roles only, particularly in the Volta clam fishery (Volta Estuary, Big Ada).

The most productive shellfisheries by yield are the Volta clam (Galatea paradoxa) of the Volta Estuary (Big Ada) and C. tulipa fisheries of Narkwa lagoon producing up to 320 kg/day, 5,120 kg/month and 40,960 kg/season as well as 116 kg/day, 1,939 kg/month and 10,859 kg/season, respectively per crew in the case of the Volta clams, and per oyster harvester in Narkwa.

The price per kilogram of shellfish varies within and among coastal communities. P. morio (USD $8.40/kg) and T. fuscatus (USD $3.50/kg) from the Whin Estuary are the highest-priced shellfisheries from all sites assessed. The Volta clam fishery generates the highest revenue of USD $1,106.90/month for a crew of harvesters.

There are general concerns from stakeholder groups other than the shellfish resource users of the potential consumption of unwholesome shellfish by regular consumers as they perceive shellfish harvesting areas to be polluted with faecal matter and possibly heavy metals.

Mangrove vegetation in all the study sites is exploited to some extent. In the Amanzule, Whin, and Amissano estuaries, as well as Narkwa Lagoon, mangrove coverage is described by resource users as high to moderate, whereas that of the Keta Lagoon and Densu Delta is said to be low.

All the study sites support open-access fisheries. Moreover, the fisheries are unregulated, except for the Densu Delta oyster fishery and Volta clam fishery, co-managed in a gazetted community-based plan (MoFAD, 2020) and traditionally managed, respectively.

The livelihoods of shellfishers are lost during the unfavourable period of high inundation in the coastal areas caused by rainfall for most shellfisheries, which subsequently affects food (shellfish) security.

Recommendations:

• All commercial shellfisheries along the coast of Ghana should urgently be regulated to ensure their rational management, development, and sustainability.

• A comprehensive program of action research should be developed to harness the aquaculture potential of Ghana’s shellfisheries, as well as to expand the market and improve the value of shellfish through business models for the various species.

• Educating shellfish harvesters on the ecological services provided by shellfish and mangrove systems should be prioritised to promote rational utilisation of the resources.

• The use of mangroves as firewood must be discouraged, and degraded mangrove vegetation should be restored by replanting to maintain the ecological integrity of mangroves.

• The general sanitation of coastal aquatic systems and their catchment areas should urgently be improved to produce high-quality shellfish, which in turn would stimulate good health and make wild shellfish consumption more appealing.

• Shellfish harvesters should be educated and trained in entrepreneurial skills to promote the construction of lucrative varied income sources to better the standard of living of resource users, particularly during the lean or off-season for shellfish harvesting.

• Shellfish resource users should be equipped with skills in value addition to generate higher income, extend the shelf life of the product, and possibly penetrate high-value markets.

• Shellfishers should be assisted with soft loans and protective gear (i.e., diving apparatus, shucking gloves, waders, etc.) to enhance their businesses.