Socio-Economic and Decadal Perception Dataset on Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna spp.) Exploitation and Market Trade in Ghana

This dataset contains empirical socio-economic and ecological perception data collected from coastal artisanal fishing communities (Azizanya, Lolonya, and Ahwiam) in Ghana, West Africa. The data investigates the economic dynamics of hammerhead shark (Sphyrna spp.) value chains and fishers’ perceptions of long-term changes in hammerhead shark abundance and average size. The data include localized, size-dependent hammerhead shark meat prices (GH₵), intermediary-driven fin prices (GH₵/kg), and long-term local ecological knowledge (LEK) on species abundance and body size over a four-decade period (1980s–2020s). This dataset supports research on marine conservation, fisheries economics, small-scale fisheries governance, and the implementation of international trade agreements (such as CITES) for threatened elasmobranch species. Key Variables Included Site Information: Landing site / community name (Azizanya, Lolonya, Ahwiam). Respondent Category: Stakeholder type (Fisher, Trader). Meat Price Data: Reported price per whole gutted individual in Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) categorized across body size classes (Small [<3 m], Medium [3–5 m], Large [>5 m]). Fin Price Data: Reported market value per kilogram (GHS/kg) sold to intermediaries. Temporal Perceptions (LEK): Historical ordinal perception scores for species abundance (Abundant, Common, Depleted, Severely Depleted) across three time horizons (1980s–1990s, 2000s, 2010s–2020s). Body Size Trends: Perceived shifts in landed shark body sizes over time (Increasing, Stable, Decreasing). Drivers of Decline: Categorical fisher perceptions of resource depletion drivers (e.g., Fish scarcity, Increasing effort/fisher numbers).