West Africa Shellfish Hub

19/08/2026

19/08/2026

🚨 ARE YOU READY???TOMORROW, IT BEGINS! 🌊🌍

The Africa Ocean Institute (AOI) officially launches tomorrow, marking the beginning of a bold new chapter for ocean and environmental innovation in Africa.
✨ One Institute. Three Centres (DFAS, CCM-ACECoR, CeMA). One Vision. A stronger future for Africa’s oceans.

📅 20th August 2026
⏰ 10:00 am (UTC)
📍 Academic Board Chamber, UCC
📲 Join us live on all TV UCC platforms (YouTube)
🔗 https://bit.ly/4zx2n2u
The future of Africa’s oceans starts with us. 🌊

Africa Ocean Institute — Advancing knowledge. Inspiring action. Transforming our ocean future.



Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast Centre for Coastal Management - University of Cape Coast Centre for Marine Affairs - Cema University Of Cape Coast (UCC) College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast Office of International Relations, UCC Institutional Advancement Office, UCC Institutional Advancement Office - UCC University of British Columbia Oceana

06/08/2026

Double win for our Coordinator. Congratulations Sir 🎉👏

New HoD Alert🎊

Congratulations to you, Professor Okyere Isaac, on your appointment as the Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Best wishes in your new role 🎉

Centre for Coastal Management Cindy Anuweh Awuni College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast University Of Cape Coast (UCC) Africa Ocean Institute - AOI Centre for Coastal Management - University of Cape Coast Africa Ocean Institute AOI- Alumni Network University of Cape Coast (UCC) Albert Koomson Etornam Ashiley Kassah Evans Kwasi Arizi Kwadwo Kesse Mireku Denis Worlanyo Aheto Noble Asare Michelle Clottey Margaret Fafa Akwetey

28/07/2026

From mangrove nursery setup, management to replanting, with mentorship from is leading community mangrove restoration along the banks of Narkwa Lagoon as part of effort to protect the environment and secure fisheries livelihoods!

With the right support, women resource users are empowered to conserve the habitats from which they derive resources, ensuring resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

Happy World Mangrove Day 🌱💚

27/07/2026

Mangroves are more than just trees. Beyond protecting our coastlines, providing critical habitats for biodiversity, and helping to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide, they also sustain the livelihoods of thousands of women shellfish harvesters along the West African coast.

To help secure these livelihoods for future generations, the women of the Narkwa Oyster Harvesters Association (NOHA) with support from West Africa Shellfish Hub have begun an initiative to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems along the banks of the Narkwa Lagoon. Their efforts build on the inspiring example set by the Densu Oyster Pickers Association (DOPA), whose members have, over the years, restored hundreds of hectares of degraded mangrove forests while protecting the remaining mangrove vegetation within the Densu Ramsar Site.

As we commemorate World Mangrove Day, we celebrate these remarkable women shellfish harvesters-not only for harvesting nature's resources but also for safeguarding them. Their dedication reminds us that healthy mangroves mean resilient ecosystems, thriving fisheries, and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.

Happy World Mangrove Day! 🌿💚

23/07/2026

Congratulations to our Coordinator, Prof. Okyere Isaac. Well deserved 🎉👏👏

16/05/2026

Very well deserved! Those of us who have worked closely with you have long known that your hard work, passion, dedication, selflessness and outstanding contributions to the university would bring you this far, and even beyond. Your leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire many of us. Congratulations, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto

At a glance: Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto

■ Born on 1 April, 1972 at Nsawam in the Eastern Region

■Hails from Adutor in the Volta Region

■Completed O’ Level in 1990 at St. Martins’ Secondary School, Nsawam

■Had A’ Level in 1992 at the Pope Johns’ Secondary School, Koforidua

■Obtained Bsc. (Hons) Degree in Biological Sciences and a Diploma in Education in 1998 at the University of Cape Coast (UCC)

■Worked as a Teaching Assistant at the then Department of Botany at the UCC from 1998-99

■Served Ghana Education Service as a Biology Teacher at the St. Augustine’s College in 1999

■Completed his master’s degree in Rural Development Studies at the Swedish Agricultural University in Uppsala in 2002.

■Had MSc. Degree in International Studies in Tropical Aquatic Ecology at the Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology in 2004

■Obtained a PhD Degree in Environmental Science at the Center for Environment and Technology at the University of Bremen, Germany, in 2008

■ Appointed as a lecturer at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS) at UCC in 2009

■Appointed as Casford Hall Tutor in 2010

■Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2012 and appointed as Head of DFAS in the same year

■During his term of office as Head of DFAS, he led the formal establishment of the Centre for Coastal Management in 2013 and was appointed its first Director in 2016.

■ In 2015, he won the distinguished Lecturer award at the University of Cape Coast for his commitment, dexterity and diligence in the work of the University.

■ Published over 50 peer reviewed academic papers in reputable journals over a period of 14 years

■ His standing as an accomplished academic is further demonstrated in the number of organisations interested in funding his research and these include World Bank, among others

■ Staunch Catholic and his hobbies include music, travelling and family leisure time

■Married to Mrs. Cythia Aheto and they are blessed with a son, Arnold Sefa Aheto

■Promoted to Associate Professor in 2017


■Promoted to full-fledged Professor in 2020

■Delivered inaugural Lecture on the topic: “ Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future Through Transformative Research” on Thursday, 9 November, 2023.

■Appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC on 19th December, 2024.

■Took office as Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC on 1st January, 2025.

■Appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC on 24th September, 2025.

■Appointed as Vice-Chancellor of UCC on Friday, May 15, 2026.

06/05/2026

It’s exciting to see our partners Hen Mpoano - Our Coast demonstrate the clam depuration depot at Ada to the Minister of Fisheries!!

Fun fact: Researchers at the Shellfish Hub were at the forefront of the design and build of this first depuration depot in Ada. At the core of this activity is to deliver healthy, safe, quality shellfish within and beyond our coastal communities.

Innovation meets fisheries development in Ada.

Hon Emelia Arthur , Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture just visited Hen Mpoano’s clam depuration pilot system an initiative helping improve clam safety and processing within Ghana’s fisheries sector on day one of her Inland Fisheries Tour.

The visit also sparked important discussions around investment, training, markets, and the future of clam livelihoods.

👉 Read the full story: https://henmpoano.org/hen-mpoanos-novel-clam-depuration-technology-gains-ministerial-attention-in-ada/

05/05/2026

The Journal of Fisheries and Coastal Management (JFCoM) is back and actively seeking reviewers! 🌊🐟
As a peer-reviewed, open-access platform advancing research in , , and coastal systems across Africa, plays a vital role in shaping , , and practice.
If you’re passionate about contributing to knowledge in this space, consider joining the reviewer community.
🔗Find out more and apply: https://acecor.ucc.edu.gh/call-reviewers-journal-fisheries-and-coastal-management-jfcom

19/01/2026

Protecting the environment is not optional, it is essential to human survival.

Let’s start this week with a renewed commitment to protect what sustains us all.

Have a wonderful and purposeful week.
💚 💙 🩵