Differences in fish assemblage between fisheries-dependent and independent data in Ghana coastal waters

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries and Water Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

2 Environmental Solution Limited (ESL), Ghana

3 Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sari, Iran

10.22092/ijfs.2024.131768

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the similarities in the catches of both experimental and commercial fishing efforts along the coast of Greater Accra, Ghana using trawls. Data for fisheries-independent (experimental, INFD) and fisheries-dependent (commercial, FID) catches were sourced monthly from June 2018 to May 2019. The obtained data was analyzed for non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), diversity indices, similarity percentage, and cluster analysis using PRIMER 6 and PERMANOVA+ software. Sixty-seven fish species were obtained from both experimental and commercial catches. Species richness and Shannon-Weaver index (H’) showed no significant difference between INFD and FID catches. SIMPER analysis revealed a high dissimilarity percentage (64.95%) between commercial and experimental catches, with Selene dorsalis, Brachydeuterus auritus, and Galeoides decadactylus contributing the most. The nMDS and cluster analyses showed two distinct groups which indicated that not all grounds are used as fishing grounds by fishermen. Based on the findings, certain areas within the experimental fishing sites should be designated as marine protected areas to safeguard the populations of marine fisheries resources in Ghana.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 23, Issue 6
November 2024
Pages 833-848

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