Fisheries
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/3
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- In Bangladesh, many poor fishers struggle to cope during the government-imposed hilsa fishing ban. Boosting the resilience of the communities whose livelihoods depend on hilsa (also known as ilish), the national fish of Bangladesh, is therefore the goal of the USAID-funded Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH Bangladesh) project. Since 2014, the project has established 280 hilsa conservation groups in 81 villages, and is training women in new livelihood activities such as vegetable gardening.
- Poverty and food insecurity persist in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from three sub-Saharan Africa countries (Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda) to investigate how both proximity to and engagement with small-scale fisheries are associated with household poverty and food insecurity. Results from the analysis suggest that households engaged in small-scale fisheries were 9 percentage points less likely to be poor than households engaged only in agriculture. Households living in proximity to small-scale fisheries (average distance 2.7 km) were 12.6 percentage points more likely to achieve adequate food security and were 15 percentage points less likely to be income poor, compared to the most distant households. Households distant from fishing grounds (>5 km) were 1.5 times more likely to consume dried fish compared to households living close. Conserving the flow of benefits from small-scale fisheries is important for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.
- This brief summarizes WorldFish’s work on fish-based products in seven countries across three continents over the past 10 years. It is based on an e-learning event that brought country teams together to document approaches, lessons and research priorities. Fish-based products are a cornerstone of WorldFish’s work. Piloting and/or scaling products such as dried fish and fish powder have been a core component of its aquatic food system research for development and nutrition-sensitive programs, providing a link between production systems and consumer well-being.
- Women involved in processing fishery products in Muleba District, Kagera Region, have expressed their gratitude to the Environmental Management and Economic Development Organisation (EMEDO) and WorldFish for providing modern tools for drying sardines, significantly boosting their income. During a recent training session for businesswomen, Jovitha Chrysostom, one of the participants, shared how her group once dried ten buckets of sardines on old mats, working in shifts. With the introduction of new drying nets, thanks to the partnership with EMEDO, a Mwanza-based organization, they can now process up to 30 buckets of sardines per day.
- This report summarizes the strengthening of a provincial program for community-based resource management (CBRM) with the Malaita Provincial Government. We describe the implementation and its costs to arrive at lessons learned that can guide future CBRM scaling up in other provinces. The role of provincial fisheries officers (PFOs) has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in internationally organized projects and programs, despite their mandated role in the Fisheries Management Act 2015. Over 4 years, a CBRM program was developed and implemented as a partnership between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Malaita Provincial Government and WorldFish. A total of 96 communities were visited with information and awareness-raising about CBRM, as well as a survey component to ascertain current CBRM practices. As of December 2023, eight management plans had been developed by 32 communities that wanted to follow up on the information provided. In addition, the program used a CBRM monitoring and evaluation tool and trained 72 community facilitators representing 51 communities. The report provides reflections and lessons from the implementation of this program.
- This report documents the design, implementation and evaluation of the Fish in School Meals pilot and provides recommendations for scaling up fish supply to schools in Timor-Leste. The pilot fits within pillar 3 - increased consumption activities of the Partnership for Aquaculture Development in Timor-Leste Phase 2 (PADTL2) project in partnership with key government stakeholders. It aims to establish and test systems to supply fresh tilapia to schools and assess its future scalability while helping to boost fish consumption among school-aged children in rural areas. As part of the national school meal program, Programa Merenda Eskolár (PME), the pilot supplied locally produced and genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) to 10 schools in Ermera municipality. Over 1000 students from five preschools and five primary schools in rural and remote areas received a nutritious fish dish once a week, between July and November 2023. Ermera has some of the highest child malnutrition rates in the country, and it is a land-locked municipality with limited opportunities to access fresh fish. During the pilot, close to 10,000 meals with fish were served and over 2 t of tilapia supplied.
- Fisheries co-management is a partnership of local users and beneficiaries of aquatic resources, including small-scale fishers and gleaners, traders, processors and consumers, as well as governments. This shared partnership is responsible for the economic, social and environmental sustainability of fisheries and their related livelihoods. At the community level, co-management is normally facilitated through a group or committee comprised of men and women representing the fishers and gleaners, traders, consumers and local authorities. Engagements with government at higher levels vary. Most importantly, co-management facilitates the open flow of information between community groups and the government. This may lead to shared actions and, thus, collaboratively managed fishery resources.
- Fisheries co-management is a partnership of local users and beneficiaries of aquatic resources, including small-scale fishers and gleaners, traders, processors and consumers, as well as governments. This shared partnership is responsible for the economic, social and environmental sustainability of fisheries and their related livelihoods. At the community level, co-management is normally facilitated through a group or committee comprised of men and women representing the fishers and gleaners, traders, consumers and local authorities. Engagements with government at higher levels vary. Most importantly, co-management facilitates the open flow of information between community groups and the government. This may lead to shared actions and, thus, collaboratively managed fishery resources.
- Women’s empowerment is an important policy agenda that is critical for developing countries like Bangladesh to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). The prime objective of this paper was to examine whether community savings groups can truly improve the economic conditions of women which turns into women’s empowerment in fishing communities or not. The propensity score matching (PSM) and logistic regression technique were incorporated, and required data were collected from Community Savings Groups (CSG) interventions and non-CSG villages of coastal Bangladesh. Quantitative data were collected from 615 women comprising 306 CSG participants (treatment group) and 309 non-participants (control group). The results affirm CSG group members were economically more solvent and less dependent on borrowed money than non-CSG group members. Improved economic indicators (savings, income and expenditure) of CSG households make the foundation of attaining women’s empowerment for the intervened group. The findings revealed that CSG women performed better in various dimensions of leadership capacity than non-CSG women. Econometric analysis confirmed positive impacts of CSG interventions on savings, gross household income, earning from catching fish, alternative incomegenerating activities (AIGAs), expenditure, and women’s empowerment. The initiatives of CSG not only generate economic well-being but also contribute to women’s empowerment. Financial access, improved literacy and an enabling environment for the productive engagement of women reduce gender inequality in fishing communities. To sustain the benefits of CSG, establishing institutional linkages (advisory and financial), legality/registration of CSGs from the government authority, and facilitation of alternative IGAs are crucial.
- Socially ascribed gender norms are a significant barrier for women of the fishing communities in coastal Bangladesh. These norms limit women’s income autonomy, access to productive resources, decision making capacity and mobility, which negatively affects their economic empowerment and overall well-being. The article delves into the topic of women’s empowerment in these communities. The study employed a mixed method approach to collect data from ECOFISH II project intervention villages. Pro-WEFI, which is a modified and refined version of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) was utilized for fishing community to determine women’s empowerment and disempowerment status across three domains of empowerment (3DE): intrinsic, instrumental, and collective agency. The findings revealed that men experienced fewer inadequacies than women, with a weighted average 3DE score of 0.75 for men and 0.57 for women, and only 14% of women and 37% of men were found to be empowered. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) score was 0.79 and households with gender parity made up 31% of the total. This study developed a comprehensive set of Pro-WEFI indicators applicable for assessing and comparing women’s empowerment across cultures in fisheries-related projects. Utilizing the disaggregated scores of each Pro-WEFI indicator, it is possible to identify areas of disempowerment for both genders and prioritize project interventions accordingly. Furthermore, employing the Pro-WEFI tool in a longitudinal panel design can capture the changes in women’s empowerment over time in any fisheries project.
- Small-scale fisheries are crucial for global food security and economic development but face numerous challenges. Understanding their decision-making processes is vital for developing effective management strategies. The study employs a qualitative case study approach, including expert consultations and semi-structured interviews with 25 fishers. Factors were identified using qualitative thematic analysis, then filtered by frequency and importance. Causation between decisions and factors were demonstrated by causal mapping. The results are presented in three decision-making maps, each outlining a specific type of decision-making process: daily operational decisions, strategic fishing and sales decisions, and community involvement and collective action decisions. The factors influencing these decisions show a complex interplay across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Operational decisions are predominantly shaped by immediate environmental conditions, while strategic decisions depend on long-term financial stability and market dynamics. Decisions involving community involvement are deeply rooted in social identities and interests, reflecting broader socio-political engagements. Findings reveal that fishers adopt stability-focused strategies to cope with the unpredictability of income and expenses, inadvertently ensnaring themselves in a cycle of precarious resilience. The study also highlights a strong desire among fishers for public participation, spurred by political marginalization. Additionally, the local context such as community network and institutions significantly influence their decisions. This study can be utilized to inform policy and program designs, ensuring interventions are tailored and locally relevant. Specific policy recommendations include enhancing financial literacy and access to credit, fostering an inclusive development process, and strengthening community-based organizations to support the fishery community. Future research should incorporate quantitative methods and broader stakeholder perspectives to understand the factors influencing small-scale fishers’ decisions more comprehensively.
- Timor-Leste is a part-island nation, with a large ocean territory, but makes relatively little use of its marine resources. Fisheries can play a greater role in livelihood support, nutrition security and nation building, but sustainability of fish stocks and habitats must be central to this. WorldFish and Blue Ventures, supported by the Minderoo Foundation, will work with government, other stakeholders and fishing communities to pilot equitable, sustainable co-management approaches to support the development of small-scale fisheries.
- Timor-Leste is a part-island nation, with a large ocean territory, but makes relatively little use of its marine resources. Fisheries can play a greater role in livelihood support, nutrition security and nation building, but sustainability of fish stocks and habitats must be central to this. WorldFish and Blue Ventures, supported by the Minderoo Foundation, will work with government, other stakeholders and fishing communities to pilot equitable, sustainable co-management approaches to support the development of small-scale fisheries.
- The Sustainable Aquaculture and Community Fish Refuge (SAFR) project, which falls under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (BMZ) Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems initiative, aims to reduce poverty and hunger. Under the initiative, the BMZ launched its Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture with the goal of improving the availability of fish products for food insecure people in Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia and increasing both employment and incomes. The program established projects in seven countries: Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Uganda, and Zambia. One of the projects is the Cambodia SAFR Intervention, which has three components: (1) sustainable aquaculture, (2) community fish refuges and (3) policy support for aquaculture and fisheries in the country. As part of its efforts, SAFR helped the country’s Fisheries Administration (FiA) to achieve the establishment of 1200 CFRs. The aim was to increase fish production, create jobs and generate income from environmentally friendly rice fields for food insecure Cambodians. With more than EUR 1 million in funding from BMZ and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), WorldFish implemented the CFR component of the project (SAFR-CFR component) to establish and improve 21 CFRs in the province of Kampong Thom. WorldFish partnered with the local nongovernmental organization (NGO) Akpivath Neary Khmer Organization (ANKO). Together, they implemented the SAFR-CFR component of the project using three approaches: (1) improve the CFR and its environment, (2) scale out best practices for CFR management and nutrition, and (3) build the capacity and raise awareness of CFR management among communities and local authorities. The project began in December 2020 and was set to conclude in March 2024. Goal: Cambodia’s food insecure population has improved access to more fish and fish products and has increased incomes from using resource friendly rice field fishery (RFF) systems. The project increased 42% of the quantity of fish and other aquatic animals (OAAs) from rice field fishing. CFR Zone of Influence (ZoI) provided fish and OAA from 89 kg to 104 kg per hectares in the baseline and endline, respectively. The total annual incomes of women and men working in these fish value chains rose 14%.
- Majumdar, R.; Benzie, J.; Delamare-Deboutteville, J.; Yossa, R.; Khor, L.; Verner-Jeffreys, D.; Chadag, V.; Mills, D.J.; Smallhorn-West, P.; Eriksson, H.; Tigchelaar, M.; Allison, E.; Hossain, P.R.; Tilley, A.; Rossignoli, C.; Adam, R.; Gichohi, W.; Siamudaala, V.; Komugisha, B.; Mudege, N.; Siriwardena, S.N.; Mohammed, E.; Chan, C.; Tran, N.; Fleming, A.In this report, WorldFish scientists share their significant contributions to scientific advances and pioneering research that are reshaping our vision for sustainable food systems. Our work in 2023 highlights a range of transformative projects, from breakthroughs in aquatic animal biosciences to the development of sustainable systems that can bring about systemic changes at scale. We've crafted these solutions through close collaborations with our local, national, and international partners, supported by our donors. This collaborative spirit underpins our journey toward leveraging the unique potential of aquatic food systems to combat hunger and poverty and eliminate pervasive malnutrition.
- One integral aspect of the project is the formation of Women Income and Nutrition Group (WING) engaging women from targeted fishing households. WING aims to empower its members through nutrition-sensitive alternative income generating activities supported by the implementation of the Business Literacy School (BLS). The project provides WING members with a BLS book, serving as an educational tool for basic literacy and business development. Through carefully structured sessions and exercises, WING members develop foundational skills, including reading and writing the Bangla alphabet, constructing words and sentences, numerical literacy (1-100), and basic arithmetic operations. The BLS book unfolds over 24 sessions scheduled for 12 months (2 sessions/month), inclusive of mid-term and final assessments designed to appraise learning progress. Project recruited and trained local Community Volunteer (CV) facilitate the BLS sessions. The expected results is that, through active participation in discussions during the BLS sessions and practical engagement with the book, WING members will acquire invaluable skills and experiences in reading, writing, and accounting for their income generating activities.
- One integral aspect of the project is the formation of Women Income and Nutrition Group (WING) engaging women from targeted fishing households. The primary focus is on empowering women from targeted fishing households through the WING and building their capacity to engage in nutrition-sensitive alternative income-generating activities. The project delivers comprehensive training on climate-adaptive homestead horticulture to WING members, followed by the provision of critical inputs such as vegetable seeds and organic fertilizers (vermi compost). This aims to enhance the skills and capabilities of WING members, preparing them for engaging in homestead vegetable farming. Additionally, the project supplies a booklet, acting as a learning tool for WING members with a specific focus on homestead horticulture. The content of the booklet encompasses essential messages including the significance of homestead horticulture, the selection of seasonal and location-appropriate vegetables, techniques for preparing pits and beds, climate-resilient technologies for vegetable production, caring for vegetables, and conducting cost-benefit analyses. WING members are expected to utilize this booklet as a guide throughout the year while cultivating vegetables. The project anticipates that the support provided, coupled with the use of this educational resource, will enable WING members to achieve year-round production and consumption of nutrient-rich vegetables, contributing to improved food security and nutritional outcomes within the targeted artisanal fishing communities in Bangladesh.
- A key initiative within the project is the formation of Women Income and Nutrition Group (WING) engaging women members of the targeted artisanal fishing households. WING members undergo capacity building initiatives through training and Business Literacy School (BLS) to involve in nutrition-sensitive alternative income generating activities. Specifically designed for WING members, the BLS includes dedicated nutrition education sessions facilitated by a flipchart aligned with the government's National Nutrition Services (NNS). The flipchart comprises 10 sessions focusing on critical aspects of nutrition such as dietary diversity, optimal nutrition practices during the 1,000 days window of opportunity including maternal and child nutrition, promotion of hygiene, sanitation, and safe drinking water, family planning, and prevention of early marriage. Project recruited and trained local Community Volunteer (CV) utilize the flipchart to facilitate nutrition education sessions, expecting an improvement in the knowledge and practices related to optimal nutrition among fishing households. Through targeted education and engagement, the ECOFISH II project seeks to contribute to improved nutritional outcomes within the unique context of coastal artisanal fishing communities, contributing to the overall well-being and resilience of these communities.
- Workshop with government agencies and organisations involved in Timor-Leste’s School Meal Program (PME) shared experiences about using fish in the program and identified focal areas for research. There is wide recognition for the role of aquatic foods and that greater inclusion of aquatic foods in the program requires cooperation and collaboration between partners. Not enough fish is produced in Timor-Leste for domestic supply to meet demand and PME goals. There is a need to build school level capacity for planning, procurement and meal preparation with aquatic foods.
- Traditionally, sweetpotato is a woman's crop grown primarily for food in Mozambique. With the introduction of Vitamin A rich varieties, efforts were made to commercialize the crop. This study assessed the effects of this commercialization on women producers. Findings indicate that though women devoted more land to sweetpotato, men got higher yields, sold more and obtained better prices. Nonetheless, women dominated the roots value chain and increased their participation in markets. The more lucrative sweetpotato vine chain was dominated by men (75% men), as the resources and skills required to engage in this activity were a significant challenge for women. Women perceived that sweetpotato commercialization increased their ability to make production decisions, though it has not resulted in any changes in ownership of resources. Women and men both noted a subtle change in norms. Men for example perceived that their ability to make decisions had reduced, while women noted that they had taken on more leadership positions locally. These changes might be attributed to the role played by project implementors who encouraged men to allow their spouses to engage more in commercial activities. Whilst women faced challenges related to literacy, market entry and access to resources, they valued the experience obtained in improving their entrepreneurial skills. Future commercialization initiatives should work on linking women to business services and building stronger farmer-processer linkages. Efforts to sensitize men about the benefits of women's engagement in business showed some impact and should be included in further work on crop commercialization.