Marine invertebrates support lives and livelihoods in coastal communities around the world. In addition to being a vital source of food, crabs, shrimp, and other creatures play an important role in various cultural traditions. This article presents evidence from Ghana, arguing for the development of sustainable community-based management systems to conserve these organisms and preserve coastal livelihoods.
Across the West African coast, marine invertebrates like crabs, molluscs, shrimp, and lobsters are not only part of the ocean’s biodiversity but are also deeply embedded in the daily lives of local communities. Ecologically, studies show that marine invertebrates play crucial roles in food webs, nutrient cycling, and regulating populations of other marine organisms. For example, crabs help clean the seabed, while bivalves—a type of mollusc—filter water and maintain ecosystem balance. Marine invertebrates also serve as indicators of habitat quality; their presence or absence can signal the overall health of coastal ecosystems, especially in areas heavily impacted by human activity.
Around the world, these organisms contribute significantly to research on human health and diseases, drug development, food security, and spiritual and cultural heritage. Yet their importance is often undervalued in both research and policy. Ghana’s coastal communities offer a vivid case study of this relationship between marine biodiversity and human beings.
Ghana’s coastline stretches approximately 550 kilometers along the Gulf of Guinea. It includes estuaries, lagoons, mangrove forests, and sandy beaches—habitats that support a wide range of marine life. The coast is also home to several key fishing communities across four regions: Volta, Greater Accra, Central, and Western. This coastal zone plays a vital role in the country’s economy.
Ghana’s Coastline and Key Fishing Communities
The importance of marine invertebrates
Marine invertebrates are foundational to both the ecological and socioeconomic fabric of Ghana’s coastal regions. Economically, they are a cornerstone of Ghana’s artisanal fisheries, which account for approximately 70% of the country’s marine fish production and support the livelihoods of around 3 million Ghanaians, including half a million women. Species, such as shrimp, lobsters, and cephalopods (e.g., squid and octopus), are harvested year-round and sold in local and national markets. Women are central to the value chain, especially in post-harvest processing and trade. For many, the sale of crabs or shrimp is the primary source of income, enabling access to education, healthcare, and other basic needs.
Culturally, marine invertebrates are deeply rooted in the traditions and daily lives of coastal communities. Interviews with fisherfolk along Ghana’s coast reveal diverse traditional uses: cuttlebone from the giant African cuttlefish is ground and mixed with shea butter to treat body swelling, while dried spotted box crab shells are added to chicken feed to strengthen eggshells—a practice passed down through generations. Sea snail shells are repurposed as decorative items, reflecting the region’s rich artisanal heritage. Certain crab species also hold spiritual significance, with taboos governing their use or avoidance.
The need for sustainable community-based conservation
The critical role of marine invertebrates underscores the urgency of sustainable, community-based conservation. These species face multiple threats, including overfishing, habitat loss from coastal development, pollution, including microplastics accumulating in benthic species, such as mussels and crabs, and climate change. Marine invertebrates in Ghana are understudied, making it difficult to monitor populations or enforce sustainable harvesting practices. This lack of data increases the risk of overexploitation, which could destabilize ecosystems and threaten the livelihoods of communities that rely on these resources.
Sustainable, community-based conservation is therefore crucial. Policymakers should prioritize the integration of local knowledge and cultural practices into conservation frameworks, ensuring that ecological resilience is balanced with economic stability. By empowering communities, policymakers can align conservation goals with the socioeconomic needs of coastal residents, preventing fishery collapse and supporting both food security and poverty reduction.
Strategies for success amid challenges
Addressing the challenges facing marine invertebrates requires a multifaceted approach that combines local knowledge, scientific research, and policy innovation.
First, integrating traditional knowledge into conservation planning is crucial. Fisherfolk’s practices, such as avoiding crab species considered spiritually significant, can guide policies that are culturally sensitive and more likely to gain community support.
Second, closing research gaps through studies on invertebrate populations, ecological roles, and the impacts of pollution, including microplastics, can provide the data needed to set sustainable harvesting limits. A 2024 study highlights the importance of community-enforced regulations, such as catch limits and marine protected areas, in reducing overfishing.
Local communities can also be mobilized in other ways: organizing coastal clean-ups and improving waste management can reduce plastic and sewage pollution; empowering women in fisheries with training and market access can strengthen local economies while supporting conservation; and climate adaptation efforts, such as mangrove restoration and climate-resilient fishing practices, can help protect key habitats.
Why this matters for coastal communities
Marine invertebrates are essential for Ghana’s coastal communities, providing food, income, and cultural identity to millions of people. Their decline would have devastating consequences, especially for vulnerable groups, such as women traders who depend on these species to support their families. The loss of marine life could threaten food security and deepen poverty through ecosystem collapse and reduced fishing yields. Effective conservation, on the other hand, can strengthen long-term community resilience by preserving cultural traditions, stabilizing fisheries, and increasing biodiversity.
Marine invertebrates are far more than sea creatures beneath the waves along Ghana’s coast. They represent ecological resilience, economic opportunity, and cultural heritage. By integrating local knowledge with scientific research and giving coastal communities a voice in policy decisions, we can chart a more sustainable future. For many people in Ghana, marine invertebrates are much more than food: they are a central part of life and culture, and well worth protecting.
