Vulnerability and Viability: The Intersectionality among Small Scale fisheries (SSF) in James Town and Teshie Nungua - Ghana

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) contribute to food security and income for millions of people around the world. Women in small-scale fisheries communities, on the other hand, are often marginalized and vulnerable because of the cumulative effects of sea-level rise, resource overexploitation, aquaculture, coastal and inland habitat loss, overfishing, lack of livelihood alternatives, as well as food insecurity, occupational displacement, and outmigration. This study explored vulnerability pathways arising from intersectionality changes in small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the James Town and Teshie communities in Accra. The study objectives were to understand the issues of intersectionality within small scale fisheries, to examine how intersectionality impacts or increases vulnerability among small-scale fisheries, and, to identify how these intersectionality-influenced vulnerabilities in the small-scale fisheries can be addressed. The study employed a mixed methods approach to answer research questions. Findings revealed that the occurrences of intersectionality in small-scale fisheries are shaped by a variety of human-induced and natural cause. Agricultural runoff, high fuel prices, leadership bias in the allocation of fishing equipment, discrimination against women, and the introduction of various chemical feeds are examples of the human-induced and natural causes. It was recommended that the political/partisan furore must be aggressively tackled by leaders within fishing communities. Most importantly much education must be sunk into appointees and community to eschew greed and selfish interests and seek the interest of all. Overall, the study contributes to the long-term governance of SSFs by elaborating on how fisherfolk vulnerability is linked to intersectionality and its consequences. Furthermore, the study offers some insight into how SSF viability might be attained through small-scale fishing communities’ coping and adaptive responses to intersectionality.

Keywords: Intersectionality, Viability, Vulnerability, Small-Scale Fisheries