Owusu Victor
Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 13;20(1):e0317260. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317260. eCollection 2025.
This study investigates the effects of fuel price hikes on the livelihoods of small-scale coastal fisherfolk in Ghana. The study applied a mixed-methods approach consisting of a questionnaire survey of 320 fisherfolk and 20 interviews with stakeholders in the fisheries sector. Increase in expenses, reduced frequency of fishing, an upsurge in social vices, and declining small-scale fisheries opportunities were found to be the main effects of fuel price hikes on fisherfolk livelihoods. The results reveal that fisherfolk experienced financial, emotional and psychological shocks due to the high cost of fuel. Dependency on savings, borrowing, petty trading, migration and farming were found to the main coping strategies. However, the various livelihood coping strategies deployed by fisherfolk were not sufficient to ameliorate their economic hardship. The findings show that fuel price hikes can contribute to reduction in fishing pressure and overcapacity despite the current socioeconomic hardship experienced by fishing households. The study recommends interest-free loans to support fisherfolk who are already engaged in small businesses. The provision of supplementary livelihoods could also improve fisherfolk's income and well-being.
本研究调查了燃料价格上涨对加纳沿海小规模渔民生计的影响。该研究采用了混合方法,包括对320名渔民进行问卷调查以及对渔业部门的利益相关者进行20次访谈。研究发现,费用增加、捕鱼频率降低、社会不良行为激增以及小规模渔业机会减少是燃料价格上涨对渔民生计的主要影响。结果显示,由于燃料成本高昂,渔民遭受了经济、情感和心理冲击。研究发现,依赖储蓄、借贷、小买卖、迁移和务农是主要的应对策略。然而,渔民采用的各种生计应对策略不足以缓解他们的经济困境。研究结果表明,尽管渔民家庭目前面临社会经济困难,但燃料价格上涨有助于减轻捕鱼压力和产能过剩。该研究建议提供无息贷款,以支持已经从事小生意的渔民。提供补充生计也可以提高渔民的收入和福祉。