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Social Institutional Influence on Fisheries in Two Fishing Communities in the Volta Lake in Ghana

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Social institutions are one of the most important institutions in communities, especially in rural areas, where decision making depends on the chief, his elders or opinion leaders in the community. The study looked at the hindrances and catalysts they presented, to the introduction of an innovation (fish cage culture) and its acceptance. The paper, presents how Dzemeni and Kpando-Torkor, fishing communities in the Volta Region, are influenced by their social institutions in fisheries activities. Using primary and secondary data, the study investigated the potential of social institutions influence and possible effect on fishery innovation. Results indicated that institutions with better capacities mostly influenced individual and community decisions on livelihood activities. Influence, is in the form of financial support, advice and availability of the right infrastructure, to promote fishery development. It was evident that there were variations in influence and support of the social institutions and differences in the impact between the two communities. The study recommends that, fishery innovations and growth opportunities should be mainstreamed into the maintenance of social institutions or traditional knowledge, in the diffusion of new technologies, for sustainable fishery development.
Cite this paper
Amu-Mensah, M. , Amu-Mensah, F. and Abban, E. (2014) Social Institutional Influence on Fisheries in Two Fishing Communities in the Volta Lake in Ghana. Sociology Mind, 4, 305-316. doi: 10.4236/sm.2014.44031.

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