In a major step toward transforming Ghana’s artisanal fishing sector, the Ghana Scholarly Society and Skittals Ltd have launched a groundbreaking project to design a low-cost, solar-powered solution for traditional net hauling.
Dubbed the Sustainable Mobile Aquatic Transport for Fishing (SMAT-FISH), the initiative seeks to alleviate the physical strain endured by thousands of small-scale fishers along the country’s coastline.
Currently in its design phase, the project is being developed through community collaboration, ensuring that the final product meets local needs while remaining both affordable and culturally appropriate.
Across coastal towns such as Winneba, manual net retrieval remains one of the most labor-intensive tasks in fishing, often requiring entire families or divers to work for hours under harsh and sometimes dangerous conditions.
This challenge has long impeded efficiency and safety in a sector that plays a vital role in Ghana’s blue economy.
“Replacing fatigue with dignity and inefficiency with innovation isn’t just technical—it’s about inclusive development,” said a project representative, underlining the initiative’s emphasis on sustainable, community-led progress.
What sets SMAT-FISH apart is its focus on Ghana’s artisanal fishing communities rather than large-scale industrial fleets. The proposed solar-powered hauling device will be portable, making it suitable for use by rotating crews and encouraging shared access among different fishing groups.
Local materials will be prioritized during production to reduce costs and enhance repairability.
The partnership merges the Ghana Scholarly Society’s in-depth grassroots research with the practical engineering acumen of Skittals Ltd, ensuring the technology is rooted in real-world applicability.
With international conversations increasingly focused on sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience, the SMAT-FISH initiative is positioning Ghana as a regional leader in socially responsible marine innovation.
If successful, the model could be replicated in similar communities across West Africa, offering new hope to an essential but often overlooked workforce.
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