Abstract:
Coastal ecosystems sustain local and national fisheries livelihoods through a range
of ecosystem services (ES) they provide. Five of these coastal ecosystems, located
in two communities within the Greater Cape Three Points (GCTP) area—Princess
Town (PT) and Cape Three Points (C3P)—were assessed to develop a scheme for
establishing Marine Protected Area (MPA). To conduct an integrated assessment,
the study employed the Community Participatory Mapping and Assessment Of
ecosystems and their services method. This was complimented with Field
Ecological Assessment, Economic Valuation of ES, Cost-Benefit Analysis of
fishing and Risk Assessment of the ecosystems using InVEST HRA model, V.3.7.
The study revealed that the coastal water bodies provide nursery for important fish
species (Sardinella maderensis, Pseudotolithus senegalensis and Tilapia spp^) in
the Ghanaian fishery. Physico-chemical parameters measured for the Nyan estuary
and Enhuli lagoon for a one year period (November, 2017 - November, 2018)
indicted that both water bodies were in generally good condition to support aquatic
life. ES prioritized by the Princess Town community were valued at USS 2,917.41
ha-1 yr-1 for a total area of 239.3 ha, whilst those prioritized by the Cape Three
Points community were valued at USS 22,566.84 ha-1yf1 for a total area of 17.6 ha.
The study established that the ecosystems assessed in the GCTP area were
cumulatively at low - to - medium risk to a combination of anthropogenic
pressures exerted on them. The study developed a proposed MPA map plan for the
GCTP area. The plan proposed a network of multiple-use MP As with special
dedicated zones for regulation of activities with different levels of restrictions to
enhance ecosystem conservation for the sustenance of fisheries livelihoods and
also create the opportunity for developing ecotourism in the area.
