Ghana’s traditional fishers are using new technology to bolster climate-smart fishing

Fishing communities on Ghana’s Atlantic coast are facing declining catches as a warming ocean drives fish to deeper waters. 

In an effort to adapt, small-scale fishers such as community leader Nana Kweigyah are teaming up with environmental NGOs including Environmental Defense Fund to collect real-time data on ocean conditions from boat-mounted sensors. The data will lead to improved scientific knowledge that can inform fishery management, helping Ghana’s fishers harvest more efficiently and sustainably — and preserving ocean resources for future generations. 

“As fishers, we must have knowledge about how the fish are moving, what is driving that movement and how we can respond appropriately,” says Kweigyah. “[We are] happy that these innovations have come at our time, to increase our knowledge about the ocean.”