EAF-Nansen Programme

Studying the impacts of fishmeal production in Africa

18/12/2020

A strong demand for fishmeal, as an ingredient in livestock and aquaculture feeds, has led to a rapid development of the fishmeal and other fish-based feeds industry in Sub-Saharan African countries. These countries include Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia, as well as Southern and Eastern African lakes, where large quantities of both marine and inland fish are being harvested to meet the expanding manufacturing of fishmeal and other fish-based feeds. This accelerated development may have created job opportunities for local communities, but there are also concerns regarding diversion of fish from local consumption as well as the possible overexploitation of resources, mainly small pelagics, that are essential for peoples’ livelihoods and food security. Many local fish processors and traders, particularly women, are threatened by the competition from the fishmeal plants.

The manufacturing of fishmeal and fish-based feeds is expanding in Sub-Saharan Africa. © FAO

In 2020, FAO in collaboration with WorldFish launched a study to assess the socio-economic and biological consequences of the fishmeal and other fish-based feeds industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative was based on a recommendation by the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) with support from the  EAF-Nansen Programme and project on Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems, both of which are funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

“Traditionally, fishmeal is made from excess catches and left-over products like bones and offal, but the lucrative market has encouraged fisheries to not only use by-products from fishing and process waste, but also to target and use species that are usually intended for human consumption”, said fisheries expert Djiga Thiao, who is the FAO technical lead of the study. “For instance, in countries like Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia, fishmeal is almost entirely produced from small pelagics – like round sardinella, flat sardinella and bonga – that are usually considered the main and cheaper source of animal protein for thousands of people in the region”, he explained.
In contrast, it is considered by its supporters that the production of fishmeal and feed is good solution to resolve problems related to poor sales of excess fish and recovery of waste and post-harvest losses. They also argue that the industry creates jobs and generate income. However, most fishmeal is exported although there is a need to support African aquaculture development.

To learn more about the proven and potential consequences of the fishmeal and fish-based feed industry on food security, livelihoods, and the sustainability of small pelagic resources across Africa, the ongoing study considers countries and water bodies in West and East Africa. It focuses on 6 selected member States of CECAF (Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Republic of Congo) as well as Tanzania, Malawi and Lake Victoria (Uganda), all of which are participating in one or both of the EAF-Nansen Programme and Project on empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems.

Countries and water bodies in West and East Africa where in-depth assessments are carried out. ©FAO Large quantities of both marine and inland fish are harvested to meet the strong demand for fishmeal and fish-based feeds ©WorldFish

“It is clear that there is a need to better understand the impact of fishmeal and fish-based feed production on key fisheries resources and the people who depend on them for their food and livelihoods”, said Lena Westlund, FAO International Fisheries Analyst. “With the study we aim to identify preliminary policy recommendations as well as needs for further research so that we can assist countries in making the right decisions” she continued.   
This study, carried out in collaboration between the FAO and WorldFish and its partner the University of Greenwich and other international and sub-regional stakeholders, is expected to be finalized in early 2021. Taking the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) into account, the results will be used to formulate recommendations for decision-making on the policy considerations and possible measures needed for the sustainable and equitable development of the fishmeal and fish-based feed industry in West and East Africa.

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