(P17-015-23) Seasonal Differences in Household Food Security Among Oyster Harvesting Communities in Ghana: A Longitudinal Study

Objectives: Small-scale fisheries are an important source of livelihood and food to coastal communities. However, overharvesting has posed a threat to the growth and population of oyster fisheries. In 2017, a community in Ghana began implementing a 5 month (Nov-Apr) closed season to improve oyster growth. It is unknown how the implementation of the closed season impacts household food security amongst affected communities. Our study aimed to examine differences in household food insecurity (HFI) between the closed season and open season.

Methods: As part of a longitudinal study conducted in Accra, Ghana, in-person interviews were conducted with 123 women in March 2020 (closed season) and August 2020 (open season). We assessed HFI at both timepoints using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. HFI was defined as a binary (food secure vs. food insecure) variable. We also collected information on household sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry, food consumption, and oyster consumption. For this current study, we analyzed differences in HFI prevalence between the closed and open season using simple and multiple logistic regression, adjusting for education, number of occupations, and harvesting season.

Results: A majority of participants were food insecure at one or both timepoints (85%). Participants were significantly more likely to be food insecure in the open season compared to the closed season in both unadjusted (OR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.33;3.98, P=0.003) and adjusted (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.31;4.23, P=0.004) analysis. These results indicate that HFI prevalence does not increase in the closed season when oyster grounds are closed to harvesting. However, open season data collection coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which could explain this finding. Participants reported that the government-mandated lockdowns reduced harvest participation, decreasing harvesters’ income and oysters available for consumption.

Conclusions: Household food insecurity was not significantly higher in the closed season compared to the open season. This finding therefore supports the continuation of the closed season in these oyster harvesting communities.

Funding Sources: Funding for this study was provided by Oklahoma State University and the University of Rhode Island.