The Role of Gender in Artisanal Fisheries of the Tono Reservoir

Abstract

The 1,860 ha Tono reservoir is the largest source of water for irrigation and freshwater fisheries production in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The current status of the fisheries was investigated in this study, with emphasis on the role of gender. The reservoir’s fisheries have made a significant contribution to food security and livelihoods. The artisanal fisheries produce an estimated 61.2 metric tons of fish annually and offer employment and income for not less than 480 indigenous households. Participation in the fisheries value chain during the study was gender biased: the ratio of males to females was 104 to 376. The men do the fishing (actual extraction) and mending of the fishing gears, while the women traditionally dominate the downstream post-harvest enterprises. More importantly the women command a considerable influence on the fisheries exploitation as financiers or employers of majority of the fishers.