Assessment of Fishers' Knowledge and Willingness to Adopt Seaweed Cultivation in Ghana in Relation to Gender, Age, Education, and Distance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and willingness of fishers in four selected fishing communities (Ayitepa/Kponor, Ngyiresia, Adjoa, and Miemia) in Ghana for seaweed cultivation in terms of gender, age, education, and distance. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data and household spatial position recorded by the global positioning system (GPS). The findings show that an average of 95.8% of fishers knew seaweed and 86.5% were willing cultivate it. A chi-square test shows no significant association between gender, age, education, distance, and the willingness of fishers to participate in the seaweed cultivation. In a regression model, only age group between the ages of 18 and 64 have a strong effect on the willingness of fishers to grow seaweed (P<0.05). However, focus group interviews with fishers indicate that women are not allowed to engage in any offshore activities at Ayitepa/Kponor, Ngyiresia, and Adjoa. This study shows that gender and age are main factors in deciding human capital for the cultivation of seaweed in Ghana.