Assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems in West Africa: The case of Ghana

Richard Takyi; Badr El Mahrad; Cynthia Addo; John Essandoh; Mohamed ElHadary; Richard Adade; Eddiebright Joseph Buadi; Benjamin Osei Botwe; Francis Kofi Ewusie Nunoo

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115735

Assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems in West Africa: The case of Ghana

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Dec:197:115735. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115735. Epub 2023 Nov 3.

Authors

Richard Takyi¹, Badr El Mahrad², Cynthia Addo³, John Essandoh⁴, Mohamed ElHadary⁵, Richard Adade⁶, Eddiebright Joseph Buadi⁴, Benjamin Osei Botwe⁷, Francis Kofi Ewusie Nunoo⁷

Affiliations

¹ Blue Resources Research and Policy Institute, Box L534 Mallam, Greater Accra, Ghana; Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. Electronic address: richardktakyi@gmail.com.
² Murray Foundation, Brabners LLP, Horton House, Exchange Street, Liverpool L2 3YL, UK; Laboratory of Geoscience, Water and Environment, (LG2E-CERNE2D), Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat 10000, Morocco; CIMA, FCT-Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
³ Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of Guinea, Tema, Ghana.
⁴ Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁵ CIMA, FCT-Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123 Ravenna, Italy; Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12578, Egypt.
⁶ Centre for Coastal Management-African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁷ Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

PMID: 37924736
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115735

Abstract

Coastal and marine ecosystems, as integral component of social, ecological, and economic systems, are critical in providing essential ecosystem services that underpin human activities, including fishing and mining. Effective management of these ecosystems is paramount to safeguarding their vital contributions. This study adopts a socio-ecological framework, "Drivers (D) of human activities (A), associated Pressures (P), State change in coastal and marine environments, Impact (I) on human welfare (W) and Response (R) as measures (M) of management, (DAPSI(W)R(M))," to analyse the complexities of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Ghanaian context. The study identifies various drivers of anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, oil and gas production, and waste disposal. These anthropogenic activities create significant pressures, including selective extraction of living and non-living resources, as well as habitat degradation through substratum loss and pollution. Consequently, these pressures have led to changes in fish biomass and habitat quality, among other ecological shifts.

Keywords: Anthropogenic drivers; Coastal and marine ecosystems; Ecosystem management; Environmental pollution; Socio-ecological framework.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Ecosystem*
Ghana
Human Activities*
Humans