WorldFish Digital Repository
WorldFish research is regarded as international public goods, and we are committed to the widespread dissemination of all our information products. One of the organizational objectives of WorldFish is to make all of its products open. This is in line with both the Center’s Research Data Management and Open Access Policy and the CGIAR Open Access and Data Management Policy. Opening our research, including publications, data and tools, ensures that more people can read and apply our research findings, thereby increasing the efficiency, reach and impact of our work.
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Recent Submissions
This insight brief captures the learnings from the knowledge exchange session held at the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) inception workshop, hosted by WorldFish from 9-12 October 2023, in Penang, Malaysia. The inception workshop brought together over 70 experts and scientists from 27 collaborators, partners and potential partners in participatory discussions to give shape to Phase 1 of AABS (2023-2027) to be implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.
The Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan
Africa (FASA) project aims to develop low-cost, highly nutritious fish feeds based on novel ingredients
and enable 5000 smallholder fish farmers in three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to test and adopt
these ingredients and feeds. This annual progress report captures the highlights of the implementation
of the project from January to December 2024 under the 5-year grant agreement (2022– 2027) with the
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The report provides information on the project’s
background, implementation progress and constraints, expenditures, physical progress by component and
output, communication activities, and innovative approaches or achievements, as well as priorities for 2025.
West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, known as the "Rice Bowl of India “produces nearly half of
the state’s rice, making it a key region for India’s food security. Alongside rice, it also hosts the
country’s most commercially productive freshwater aquaculture, primarily focused on Indian major
carps like Rohu and Catla. Under the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming
(APCNF) program, efforts were initiated to transition from rice monoculture (RM) to a more integrated
and ecologically beneficial model Integrated Rice-Fish Farming (IRFF). This involves co-cultivation of
rice and fish using natural farming practices, with a focus on local rice varieties and species like Rohu,
Catla, and Mola.
The fisheries sector makes substantial contribution towards the country’s economy, creates job opportunities, and delivers essential protein to the population. Despite its contributions, the small-scale fish farmers live in poverty facing multiple challenges such as food insecurity, financial constraints and climate-related risks. In response, The Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh II (ECOFISH II) project, a 5-year initiative (December 2019 – November 2024) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was jointly implemented by WorldFish and the Department of Fisheries (DoF). The overarching goal of ECOFISH II was improved social and ecological resilience and livelihood of coastal fisheries communities in the Zone of Resilience (ZOR), Meghna River Ecosystem (MRE) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) to secure equitable food, nutrition and income benefits through sustainable fishing practices and biodiversity conservation for fisheries communities. The endline survey evaluated the ECOFISH II project's impact on coastal fisheries' resilience and community benefits in ZOR, MRE and MPA. It provided a comprehensive analysis of the project's achievements and outputs over the implementation period, compared to baseline study benchmarks.
ECOFISH II (2019-2024), a USAID-funded project led by WorldFish in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries (DOF), aimed to enhance the resilience of Bangladesh’s coastal fisheries and communities. Building on the ECOFISHBD, the project supported 72,000 women, youth, and fishers from 15,010 coastal artisanal fishing households, with a focus on those impacted by the Rohingya crisis. ECOFISH II improved ecosystem health by engaging 140 local youth as blue guards (BGs) to combat ghost gears and plastics. It also advanced scientific research on fish larvae, salinity impacts on fish diversity, seasonal water quality, biodiversity, and the role of phytoplankton in hilsa nutrition. The project assessed various aspects of marine conservation, including MPA suitability, tourism impacts on ghost crabs, small-scale fisheries in Nijhum Dwip, riverine catfish hotspots, and non-conventional fishery products. Catch data from 10 fish landing centers and 40 citizen scientists revealed a 330% increase in small hilsa landings and stable marine fish catch, while the price of larger hilsa doubled. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) data highlighted fluctuations in species such as Bombay duck, hilsa, and thryssa anchovy. ECOFISH II expanded co-management from hilsa to broader marine fisheries by forming 369 Fisheries Conservation Groups, involving 15,010 small-scale fishers, and piloting a fish landing center-based co-management model at 10 landing centers along the Bay of Bengal coast. It also trained 1,508 boat skippers and built national capacity through EAFM training for 48 professionals and 322 committee members, laying the groundwork for sustainable fisheries governance. The project contributed to the development of more than eight key policies, including a revised Hilsa Fisheries Management Action Plan (HFMAP), MPA delineation, the Nijhum Dwip management plan, blue economy guidelines, and low-extractive mariculture strategies, all essential for advancing coastal and marine fisheries management in Bangladesh.
Small-scale fishers are highly impacted by conservation measures, so balancing their needs requires just, equitable, and inclusive strategies. ECOFISH II addressed this by supporting the fishing households through diversified livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and improved access to technology and markets. It helped establish Community Savings Groups (CSGs) and Women Income and Nutrition Groups (WING), empowering 6,575 women and raising BDT 10.6 million in savings. The project also promoted safe dried fish production and climate-resilient horticulture, leading to improved nutrition and dietary diversity. The project also changed nutrition behavior through targeted training and BLS sessions. As a result, 77% of households adopted year-round vegetable cultivation, increasing household income by 78.5% and enhancing dietary diversity for 90% of households. The project also developed nutritious fish and seaweed powders, which generated strong consumer interest. Additionally, it tested various fish-based technologies, such as low-trophic mariculture, dried fish, crab fattening, and seaweed farming, offering new opportunities for technology adoption and market linkages.
This insight brief captures the learnings from the knowledge exchange session held at the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) inception workshop, hosted by WorldFish from 9-12 October 2023, in Penang, Malaysia. The inception workshop brought together over 70 experts and scientists from 27 collaborators, partners and potential partners in participatory discussions to give shape to Phase 1 of AABS (2023-2027) to be implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.
This report provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders seeking to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the aquatic food sector in Southern Africa. The report highlights the importance of targeted capacity-building programs in addressing the specific needs of SMEs to enhance their capacity to deliver nutrient-dense aquatic foods to address household food and nutritional insecurity and in turn promote sustainable development in the region.
Climate change and its’ associated weather variabilities and extremes are posing significant risks to aquaculture productivity, particularly in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Concurrently, the increasing population and shifting consumption patterns are driving higher demand for aquacultural products. This study investigates the impact of floods, heavy rainfall, tidal surges, high temperatures, droughts, erratic rainfall, and water quality parameters (Dissolved Oxygen, ammonia, pH) on investments in “hard” assets, such as specific fish-farm equipment (aquaculture nets, fish cages, thermometers, irrigation pumps), to enhance climate resilience. Additionally, the study explores “soft” investments in information services that provide advanced forecasts on monsoon onset, heavy rainfall, dry spells, high temperature and cold spells. The results indicate that the level of investment in climate-smart aquaculture is currently influenced by climate stresses, investment capacity (farm size, family size), aquaculture system characteristics (pond size and depth, type of fish, aggregate yields), and market-related factors (proximity to roads and markets). In the context of climate-informed decision-making, forecast-based advisory services can facilitate the transition to climate-smart aquaculture. However, the benefits of the information services are often linked to substantial investments in hard infrastructure that ensure the effective utilization of climate information and advisory services. This absence of accessible climate information services and the capacity to invest in climate smart equipment that makes the information actionable, hinder the transition to climate smart aquaculture by smallholder farmers and hence threaten their livelihood and nutritional security.
Incorporating indigenous small fish into local diets can deliver health benefits to communities facing malnutrition.
This insight brief captures the learnings from the knowledge exchange session held at the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) inception workshop, hosted by WorldFish from 9-12 October 2023, in Penang, Malaysia. The inception workshop brought together over 70 experts and scientists from 27 collaborators, partners and potential partners in participatory discussions to give shape to Phase 1 of AABS (2023-2027) to be implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.
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