Value add and processing

Small-scale fishers are able to increase the value of their products from the point of landing the catch to selling it. Discover resources on seafood products and methods that can increase their value and improve their processing. 

Resources

The small-scale fisheries and energy nexus

This publication introduces the current situation and proposes a way forward with regard to the use of renewable energy in small-scale fisheries. It provides general guidance for decision-makers and development specialists on the choices, benefits and challenges related to renewable energy use and uptake in small-scale fisheries.

Fish Handling and Hygiene Training Manual

The SWIOTUNA Training Manual for Fish Quality, Safety & Handling provides easy-to- use information for guiding Small Scale fishers towards the improvement of quality and safety of fish and fishery products, through promoting good hygiene practices and good manufacturing practices.

SWIOTUNA Success Stories Booklet

This booklet presents key highlights on the issues, interventions and achievements of SWIOTUNA and other relevant CSO and NSA in the management of marine fisheries resources in their respective countries and regions in the SWIO.

Direct-to-Consumer Strategies for Seafood: The Landscape, Challenges, and Opportunities since COVID-19

This report categorizes the different types of direct-to-consumer [D2C] models that currently exist within the seafood sector, and evaluates their respective strengths and weaknesses, the enabling conditions important for certain models to thrive, as well as barriers to scale and growth. The goal is to provide insight into how these models may affect the way wild capture seafood is bought and sold around the world, and in particular, the impact this may have on social and environmentally responsible seafood initiatives.

Global Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Seafood Industry

For nearly two years, local, regional, and global fisheries and seafood supply chains have been forced to adjust and adapt to the unprecedented conditions brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

This study seeks to synthesize the complex conditions and outcomes to date, and provide an overview of the current landscape of change. Within that landscape we explore which trends or pa terns emerged simply as stop gaps in a moment of crisis, and which shifts are likely to last in the long-term.

IPNLF Human Interest Stories: Susana Sousa

Nestled in the hills of Sao Jorge, Azores, the Santa Catarina Tuna Canning Factory employs over 120 women to process, can and distribute locally caught one-by-one tuna. Learn more about the work of Susana Sousa, an employee of the factory.

Skipper's Guidebook to Pole-And-Line Fishing Best Practices

A guidebook detailing best-practices for maximising catch value and also minimising the environmental impacts of pole-and-line tuna fisheries is published by the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

Post-harvest practices for empowering women in small-scale fisheries in Africa

Post-harvest challenges faced by small-scale fisheries stakeholders have been the focus of numerous projects, programmes and investments in Africa. Many of these initiatives have aimed to benefit women, who often dominate processing and trade activities.

This report provides a summary of key findings from a desk review and primary data research that has aimed to identify successful post-harvest initiatives related to infrastructure design and management, improved post-harvest technology, value addition and access to finance.

No hidden catch - Mainstreaming values of small-scale fisheries in national accounts

It is notoriously difficult to obtain data for fisheries, especially for the more elusive small-scale sector, which tends to operate under the radar. These guidelines aim to assist national statistics officers and others improve the way they account for small-scale fisheries (SSF).

Myanmar's artisanal hilsa fisheries. How much are they really worth?

This study estimates the economic value of artisanal hilsa fisheries in Myanmar, using artisanal income data to estimate use value and a benefit transfer to estimate non-use value.

Socioeconomic characteristics of hilsa fishers in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar

The Darwin-Hilsa project is developing an incentive-based system of hilsa fisheries management in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to assess the socioeconomic status of local fishing households.

The untapped potential of story to sell seafood

As part of its overall effort to bring greater transparency and traceability to seafood supply chains, Future of Fish set out to explore the power of story to sell more fish and to determine what elements of that story most influence consumer purchasing behavior. This study is part of a series of investigations to identify the business benefits of data-rich supply chains and ignite market incentives for more responsibly harvested and traded seafood.

Making sense of wild seafood supply chains

A primer for resource managers, scientists, fishers, and other industry players seeking to harness the power of supply chains to ignite sustainable management in artisanal fisheries.

Introducing Storied Fish

"Storied Fish" is seafood that comes with verifiable information about its journey from water to plate. We explain what it is, why it's important, and how it can add value for chefs and restaurants.

COVID-19 impacts and adaptations in Asia and Africa's aquatic food value chains

We tracked the impacts of COVID-19 on aquatic food value chains in Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Myanmar and Nigeria during 2020. We assessed the availability and price of aquatic foods and production inputs using a high frequency panel survey of 767 actors from eight value chain nodes. We also conducted semi-structured phone interviews with 63 respondents in Bangladesh and online interviews with 100 aquatic food value chain actors and key informants from 17 sub-Saharan African countries. This information provides insights into the pathways by which the crisis has affected aquatic food value chain actors, the scale of those impacts and how they have adapted. These findings give rise to policy recommendations aimed at mitigating impacts in the present, assisting recovery and building a more resilient aquatic food system in the future.

Good post-harvest practices for fresh fish trading: Facilitators guide

This training material is a facilitator guide for peer to peer learning on better management practices for post-harvest handling and trading of fresh fish.

Resiliencia de las comunidades pesqueras de México ante COVID-19 Impactos económicos y sociales

Para contribuir a los esfuerzos nacionales y globales, Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A. C. (COBI) ha iniciado un proceso de consulta con pescadores en ocho entidades federativas de México para conocer los impactos económicos y sociales de la pandemia. Así como, los roles del estado y la distribución de apoyos, los efectos en la salud, las soluciones locales aplicadas por los pescadores, la igualdad de género, el uso de tecnología y el impacto ambiental. Este primer reporte refleja los impactos económicos y sociales inmediatos del COVID-19 y concluye con una serie de recomendaciones expresadas por el sector pesquero.

How is COVID-19 affecting the fisheries and aquaculture food sytems

The full range of activities required to deliver fish and fish products from production to the final consumer is subject to indirect impacts of the pandemic through new sanitary measures, changing consumer demands, market access or logistical problems related to transportation and border restrictions. This in turn has a damaging effect on fishers and fish farmers’ livelihoods, as well as on food security and nutrition for populations that rely heavily on fish for animal protein and essential micronutrients.

This policy brief reviews on going challenges and proposes measures to protect production and income of the sector and the most vulnerable, as well as maintain operations and support the supply chain.

The Silent Wave - A fisheries cooperative in India responds to Covid-19

Shot during the peak of the first wave of Covid-19 in India, this documentary tells the story of how the fishermen and women of Kollam coped with the lockdown and the widespread disruptions in their fisheries. Responding to the crisis, the local fisheries cooperative introduced a major change to the prevalent auction system. The innovation was aimed at both ensuring the safety of the coastal fishing community, and correcting the power imbalance between fishers and traders. But the new system had some unforeseen consequences.

Guide to improved dried shrimp production

This guide is for dried-shrimp producers, buyers and those involved in extension services. The aim is to describe good processing, handling and hygiene practices that will help producers maximize the value and income from dried shrimp, meet required national standards and access new and high-value markets.

Post-harvest losses in small-scale fisheries: Case studies in five sub-Saharan African countries

This regional programme began in October 2006 and lasted 18 months. It aimed to build on past initiatives and develop tools for practical loss assessment in artisanal fisheries. The programme provided capacity building for fishery officers in qualitative and quantitative fish loss assessments methods, planned support, and supervised the implementation of loss assessment studies in five sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mali, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda).