Research Fund 24/01 :: Josephine Entsie

Congratulations to Josephine Entsie, a young researcher from Ghana, who reached out to us back in 2023 (!!) while working on her Master’s thesis on marine megafauna conservation… and, well… there was no way we were going to say no to this one, even though it took a looooong time for us to upload the photo.

#oops!

Her work tackles a big problem with an even bigger twist. While most studies focus on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, she decided to dig deeper into something less obvious… what happens when the systems meant to protect marine life don’t actually work well together?

Focusing on coastal communities in Ghana’s Western Region, she explored the interaction between customary practices and statutory regulations. In simple terms: what local communities have always done versus what governments say should be done.

Through interviews with fishers, chief fishers, traders, NGOs, and Fisheries Commission officials, she uncovered a reality that won’t surprise anyone who’s worked in the field… things don’t always line up.

Her findings show that poor coordination, lack of resources, and a disconnect between national policies and local realities create “institutional voids” — gaps where conservation efforts quietly fall apart. Add economic pressure into the mix, and it becomes clear why rules are often ignored.

But here’s the good part.

Her research doesn’t just point out problems — it points to solutions. A more collaborative approach, where local knowledge is integrated into management strategies, could go a long way in protecting marine megafauna.

We also liked the practical recommendations, such as revising the Fisheries Act to clearly define protected species… because vague rules rarely protect anything.

All in all, this is exactly the kind of grounded, real-world research we like to support, so we sent her 300 euros to help move things forward and you may download Josephine’s MPhil thesis here.

Well done Josephine, and keep on rockin’!