Blue foods in national climate strategies: Ghana

Abstract

Ghana’s rich marine and freshwater ecosystems support fisheries that are important for both exports and local consumption. While aquaculture production is currently relatively small, it is growing rapidly, supported by policies and strategies such as the Ghana National Aquaculture Development Plan and the recently passed Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, which aim to sustainably grow the sector and enhance the income generated from it. Blue foods are central to national food security, accounting for 60% of animal protein consumed in Ghana, and roughly 10% of the population is employed by the industry. Ghanaians consume 24 kg of blue foods per person per year, above the 2022 global average of 20.2 kg, with small pelagics making up the bulk of diets. In recent years, marine capture fisheries have been under strain from overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Small-scale fisheries increasingly struggle to compete with overcapitalized industrial fleets, many of them foreign-owned. Realizing the full potential of Ghana’s blue foods will require improvements to the management and regulation of fisheries and coastal resources and greater resilience in the face of climate threats such as warmer waters, deoxygenation, and stronger storms. This brief is part of a series assessing how blue foods can support national climate goals by combining country-specific data on production, trade, consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and climate risks to identify opportunities for mitigation and adaptation. It is intended for decision-makers developing national climate strategies in Ghana and similar contexts, as well as funders and implementing partners targeting blue foods in climate initiatives.