{"id":60123155,"date":"2026-03-13T14:43:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/?post_type=photo_story&p=60123155"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:44:13","slug":"ghanas-beach-fishers-throwing-away-potential-seafood","status":"publish","type":"photo_story","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/ocean\/ghanas-beach-fishers-throwing-away-potential-seafood\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghana\u2019s beach fishers could be throwing away a small fortune in potential seafood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For thousands of coastal Ghanaians, artisanal fishing is a livelihood difficult to replace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centenary Cidi Ocloo, who has been fishing for 17 years, says the activity is much more than just a way to make ends meet. The sea and the three landing beaches in Ghana\u2019s Keta district have become permanent fixtures in his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI used to follow my father and his siblings to the shores as a child,\u201d Ocloo tells Dialogue Earth. \u201cThere were times I would join them during hauling or simply swim while they worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fisher Centenary Cidi Ocloo checks a beach seine net at Dzelukofe in Ghana\u2019s Volta region. \u201cThere are days we haul an empty net,\u201d he says (Image: Prince Ackah Blay \/ Dialogue Earth)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A mess of different nets piled up on Dzelukofe beach. Seth Kedey of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council says nets with fine mesh sizes are banned to protect fish stocks, but some fishers still use them (Image: Prince Ackah Blay \/ Dialogue Earth)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

As Ocloo grew up he began coming every day to fish with other children and to help sort the catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was fun and still is,\u201d he says. Nowadays, though, it can be a tough way to earn a living. Nets are increasingly brought in without fish, just holding garbage and sand. \u201cThere are days we haul an empty net,\u201d says Ocloo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that any cuttlefish eggs trapped in his net are returned to the sea immediately. This follows some local education on protecting cuttlefish given by the chief fisher at his landing beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n