Raymond Ayilu

Raymond Ayilu

Dr Raymond Ayilu

Postdoctoral Researcher

Programme Area: Programme Area 1 – Coastal Resources
Working Group: WG Institutional and Behavioural Economics

+49 (0)421 23800 - 0

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Office: Fahrenheitstr. 8
28359 Bremen
Room: 3108 (1st floor)

Research interests

I am a development and political economist specialising in fisheries governance, marine resource utilisation, and rural economic development, with a regional focus on West Africa. My research examines how industrialisation, globalisation, and blue economy initiatives are transforming fisheries value chains, local food systems, and the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities. I am particularly interested in who benefits from the economic development of marine resources, who bears the costs, and how these processes shape inequalities in access to resources, markets, and economic opportunities. My research involves direct collaboration with local communities and grassroots organisations, as well as constructive dialogue with policymakers. In addition to my research, I have experience teaching and supervising master students and advising doctoral students.

CURRENT PROJECTS

 RFS-SFCC - Reimagining Food Systems for Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Social Justice

 Partnership for Advancing Sustainable Blue Economy Education and Research (PASBLUE)

 

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles

Bennett, NJ, López de la Lama, R., Araos, F., Ayilu, RK, Barua, P., Blythe, JL, Childs, J., Das, J., De la Puente, S., Ertör, I., Ertör-Akyazi, P., Farbin, T., Gerhardinger, LC, Glaser, M., Govan, H., Guasch, A., Le Billon, P., Lopes, PFM, Marschke, M., … Sumaila, UR (2026). A call to action to support and safeguard ocean defenders.  Npj Ocean Sustainability ,  5 (1), 48.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00233-x

Bleischwitz, R., Ayilu, RK, & Schlüter, A. (2026). Partnerships and development cooperation: supporting implementation of SDG 14 at the international level. In  The Elgar Companion to Ocean Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals  (pp. 186-211). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803923574.00020

Nyiawung, R.A. & Ayilu, R.K. (2025). Social Innovation in Small-Scale Blue Food Systems: A Case Study of Oyster Harvesters in The Gambia, West Africa.  Environmental Policy and Governance  1–13. 

https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.70024

Allegretti, A., Ayilu, R.K. , Okafor-Yarwood, IM, Standen, S., & Hicks, C.C. (2025). Beyond growth? Understanding the grassroots entrepreneurship of women fish processors in Ghana. World Development Perspectives , 38 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100687.

Tenakwah, ES, Boadu, G., Tenakwah, EJ, Parzakonis, M., Brady, M., Kansiime, P., Said, S., Eyaa, S., Ayilu, RK, Radavoi, C. and Berman, A. (2025). Assessment in the age of artificial intelligence: Interdisciplinary analysis of ChatGPT response to higher education assessment tasks.  Knowledge Management and E-Learning ,  17 (1). https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2025.17.001

Ayilu, R. K. , Fabinyi, M., Barclay, K., & Bawa, M.A. (2023). Industrial and small-scale fisheries relations in Ghana: A political ecology perspective on blue economy exclusion.  Journal of Rural Studies ,  102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103085.

Ayilu , R.K. (2023). Limits to blue economy: challenges to accessing fishing livelihoods in Ghana's port communities.  Maritime Studies ,  22 (2), 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-023-00302-8

Ayilu, RK, Fabinyi, M., Barclay, K., & Bawa, MA (2023). Blue economy: industrialization and coastal fishing livelihoods in Ghana.  Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries ,  33 (3), 801-818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-022-09749-0

Ayilu, R. K. , Fabinyi, M., & Barclay, K. (2022). Small-scale fisheries in the blue economy: Review of scholarly papers and multilateral documents. Ocean & Coastal Management , 216.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105982

Ayilu, R.K. & Nyiawung, R.A. (2022). Illuminating informal cross-border trade in processed small pelagic fish in West Africa.  Maritime Studies , pp.1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-022-00284-z

Nyiawung, R.A., Ayilu, R.K. , Suh, N.N., Ngwang, N.N., Varnie, F., & Loring, P.A. (2022). COVID-19 and small-scale fisheries in Africa: Impacts on livelihoods and the fish value chain in Cameroon and Liberia.  Marine Policy ,  141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105104.

Aboagye, RG, Seidu, AA, Hagan Jr, JE, Frimpong, JB, Budu, E., Adu, C., Ayilu, RK, & Ahinkorah, BO, (2021). A multi-country analysis of the prevalence and factors associated with bullying victimization among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from the global school-based health survey.  BMC psychiatry ,  21 (1), 325. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03337-5

Ayilu RK, Antwi-Asare TO, Abbey EN, & Chimatiro S. (2018). Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Profitability of International Artisanal Cross Border Fish Trade in Parts of West Africa. AU-IBAR, Bulletin of Animal Health and Production , 2018. pp 19-33

 

Non-Refereed Articles and Book Chapters

Nyiawung, R.A. & Ayilu, R.K. (2024). "We're scared of the future": Struggles between small-scale fishers and foreign industrial trawlers in Limbe, Cameroon. N. Bennett & R. Lopez de la Lama (Eds.). The Ocean Defenders Project. Online at https://oceandefendersproject.org

Ayilu, R.K., & Appiah, S. (2020). Fish traders and processors network: Enhancing trade and market access for small-scale fisheries in the West Central Gulf of Guinea. Securing sustainable small-scale fisheries, 71. FAO , 652, 71.

Ayilu RK, Antwi-Asare TO, Anoh P, Tall A, Aboya N, Chimatiro S, & Dedi S (2016). Informal artisanal fish trade in West Africa: Improving cross-border trade. Penang, Malaysia: WorldFish. Program Brief: 2016-37.

 

Book in Progress

Ayilu, RK, Nyiawung, RA, & Mbatha. P. (nd). Small-Scale Fisheries in Africa: Status, Sustainability and Blue Governance. MARE Publication Series. Springer Nature Publishing