The Blue Economy in West Africa: livelihoods of small-scale fisheries

The Blue Economy in Ghana: Industrialisation, Contestation and Impacts on Small-Scale Fisheries (Completed)

raymond ayilu

My project delves into how small scale fisheries are grappling with blue economy imperatives compelled by the overwhelming interest of state and non-state actors in marine and coastal resources. The blue economy concepts emphasise on economic  growth and environmental sustainability through marine, ocean and coastal frontier. This represent significant shifts in the global prime fisheries governance in terms of what sorts of social and political factors would characterise  those who win and who loses from growth and governance interventions. With a specific interest on small-scale fisheries, the thesis asks: who gets access to resources and who doesn’t? How are fisheries and communities impacted,  and how are they responding. What are the windows of opportunity to innovate and thrive? What are the distortions occurring in local fishery value chains?

Meet the researcher

Raymond Ayilu holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, respectively. He is interested in using social science dimensions to studying environmental resources, blue economy and small-scale fisheries. He has worked with global-leading research organisation, World Fish under a Fish Trade Project in Africa. He also previously worked with West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Organisation (FCWC) as a Consultant coordinating projects focused on improving intra-regional trade in fishery products.

  • Supervisor(s): A/Prof Michael Fabinyi and Prof Kate Barclay
Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.