INCREASED AWARENESS OF SHARK KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION AMONG CHILDREN IN GHANA: AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH

Abstract

The significant increase in shark catches has made shark conservation a global problem. Although several studies on sharks have been conducted in Ghana, there is a dearth of information on the use of educational approaches for shark conservation. This study aimed to assess schoolchildren's knowledge of sharks and shark fisheries, attitudes toward shark conservation, and the factors that affected their knowledge and attitudes. From March to April 2023, two basic schools from the Western region of Ghana were visited. These schools were two Primary and Junior High Schools. From these schools, 99 students were given questionnaires to fill out with the help of a local teacher. According to the survey, more than 60% of students were aware of sharks' predatory function in the ecosystem but oblivious to their ecological significance. From the study, schoolchildren demonstrated a fair amount of understanding of shark fisheries and fishing in Ghana due to their proximity to the fishing community. However, the misunderstandings that some of these children hold about sharks may lead to poor participation in shark conservation activities. Correlation analysis between knowledge and attitude indicated an increase in knowledge about sharks would increase the attitude of children towards shark conservation. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate shark conservation topics into the curriculum of these children, establish shark conservation groups, and engage them in citizen science projects to foster their desire for shark conservation.

Keywords

• Primary
• Junior High School
• Marine Protected Areas
• catches
• fishermen

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