Why artisanal fisher folks are selective with compliance of fisheries laws in Ghana? A case of legitimacy and need for food security.

The demand for fish product in Ghana is always increasing due to the use of fishing delicacies and its high level of protein. Fish is being illegally fished using some methods such light fishing and the use of monofilament nets. These methods to some extent have over exploited some fish stocks. This research focuses on the description and understanding the mismatch between fisher folk’s compliance of specific regulations light fishing and the use of monofilament nets. A survey of 50 fishermen and 50 fish processors was completed and data from this study was used to understand the mismatch with legitimacy and compliance of 2010 fisheries regulation in Ghana. The result showed that most fishermen were aware of the fisheries regulations and knew that light fishing was illegal and a threat to their livelihood. Whereas the fish processors, were not aware about the fisheries regulations of Ghana 2010 and testified that the decrease in fish stock would not be much of a threat to their livelihood since import frozen fish was always available for processing. In conclusion, although most fishermen have some knowledge of the laws, they still violate them. The scarcity of fish and need of minimal livelihood resources seem to be the driving force for fishermen to break the law. Women processors tend to adopt the social learning theory and deterrence model of compliance in fisheries laws in Ghana. However, fishermen tend to believe in legitimacy model in compliance in fisheries regulation