In the coastal waters of western Ghana, a flat, shark-like ray known as the guitarfish is being pulled from the sea—not for the market, but for science. Marine biologist Dr. Issah Seidu and his team are working directly with local fishermen to release these ancient creatures alive, collecting critical data that could help save the species from extinction.
Once common in shallow tropical waters worldwide, guitarfish are now among the most threatened marine fish. Their fins are prized in Asian markets, where they can sell for hundreds of dollars per kilogram. The multimillion-dollar fin trade, combined with overfishing and habitat loss, has pushed all four of Ghana’s guitarfish species to critically endangered status.
Seidu, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and founder of the nonprofit AquaLife Conservancy, has developed what he calls the “fisher biologist model.” Instead of opposing local fishers, he trains them as partners. They learn safe-release techniques, record GPS coordinates of catches, and map breeding and nursery grounds. The data will be used to create Ghana’s first locally managed marine area—a community-run refuge where guitarfish and other marine life can recover.
“If you want to convince them, you cannot tell them to stop catching these fish without giving them an alternative,” Seidu told CNN. He offers alternative livelihoods such as soap-making and snail farming, reducing fishers’ dependence on dwindling ocean stocks. To date, 200 fishers have stopped targeting guitarfish, and two communities have banned destructive fishing methods like dynamite and fine-mesh nets.
Seidu’s work earned him the prestigious 2026 Whitley Award, which comes with £50,000 (about $67,000) to expand the project. The award recognizes grassroots conservation that balances biodiversity protection with human livelihoods.
Guitarfish are what scientists call “rhino rays,” a group with 68 species worldwide. Nearly three-quarters are threatened. Larger relatives like sawfish and wedgefish are already locally extinct in Ghana. Seidu is racing to prevent the same fate for guitarfish. “These species are silently going extinct without anybody knowing them,” he said.
The global fin trade is a key driver. Guitarfish fins are often indistinguishable from shark fins, making DNA testing necessary to track them. The species are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning trade is regulated but still legal. Seidu aims for Appendix I protection, which would ban commercial exploitation entirely.
Seidu is also training the next generation of conservationists across Africa, hoping to replicate the model in other nations. “We must have compassion for those whose lives depend on this,” he said. “I know, in the future, there is hope for Africa.”
