Indigenous Knowledge And Ocean Management Practices In Axim, Ghana

Abstract

The issue of effective ocean management practices has assumed a centre stage of national debate in such contemporary times because of its impact on coastal communities and the nation as a whole. Indigenous Knowledge in ocean management has played the role of ensuring the usage of useful practices in managing the oceans. This study explores the forms of ocean-related- Indigenous Knowledge and the patterns of ocean- related-Indigenous Knowledge transfer in the Western Region of Ghana, its relevance in managing the ocean effectively and the seemingly impediments to the promotion of ocean related IK in coastal communities in modern times. By the use of qualitative approach, a total number of 17 focus group discussions and 7 key-informant interviews were conducted. The study employed the Diffusion of Innovation theory by Everett Rogers and Woodley‘s Ecological Knowledge theory and used thematic analysis and phenomenological analytic strategy as the analytic techniques. Among other findings, the participants revealed that ocean-related indigenous knowledge like observance of nofishing holidays, serving of food to the gods in the sea for bumper harvest, and customary laws against the harvest of specific fishes in the sea in Axim helped in preserving the sea and its environs sometime past. However, the nonapplication of indigenous knowledge in recent times has led to the deterioration of the sea surroundings and its resources in Axim. The findings also revealed that there was a huge gap between the knowledge on ocean related IK and practice as a result of the heavy presence of religion and modernization. The paper argues that indigenous knowledge has a way of enhancing the deployment of useful practices in managing the oceans; nonetheless, pragmatic measures like the formation of intergenerational learning programs or clubs and the encouragement of apprenticeship between younger and older members of the community need to be considered to ensure IK‘s continuous application and enforcement among natives in the coastal communities and its successful transfer to the youthful generation.