en Ecology Ecology كاربردي Orginal research papers <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:">This study aimed to identify the similarities in the catches of both experimental and commercial fishing efforts along the coast of Greater Accra, Ghana using trawls. Data for fisheries-independent (experimental, </span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:">INFD</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:">) and fisheries-dependent (commercial, FID) catches were sourced monthly from June 2018 to May 2019. The obtained data was analyzed for non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), diversity indices, similarity percentage, and cluster analysis using PRIMER 6 and PERMANOVA+ software. Sixty-seven fish species were obtained from both experimental and commercial catches. Species richness and Shannon-Weaver index (H&rsquo;) showed no significant difference between INFD and FID catches. SIMPER analysis revealed a high dissimilarity percentage (64.95%) between commercial and experimental catches, with <i>Selene dorsalis</i>,<i> </i><i>Brachydeuterus auritus</i>,<i> </i>and <i>Galeoides decadactylus </i>contributing the most. The nMDS and cluster analyses showed two distinct groups which indicated that not all grounds are used as fishing grounds by fishermen. Based on the findings, certain areas within the experimental fishing sites should be designated as marine protected areas to safeguard the populations of marine fisheries resources in Ghana.</span></span> Commercial fishing, Experimental fishing, ANOSIM, SIMPER analysis, nMDS, Cluster analysis 833 848 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-5008-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 S.K.K. Amponsah samuel.amponsah@uenr.edu.gh 100319475328460052627 100319475328460052627 Yes University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana K.A. Armah akarmah@yahoo.com 100319475328460052628 100319475328460052628 No Environmental Solution Limited (ESL), Ghana H. Fazli hn_fazli@yahoo.com 100319475328460052629 100319475328460052629 No Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute