Value chains in small-scale fisheries

Small-scale fisheries value chains include all the activities from pre-harvesting to harvesting to consumption. This includes gear making; the capture or harvesting; sorting, cleaning and processing; transport, marketing and selling; and finally the consumption of fish and seafood.

Small-scale fisheries value chain activities are often manual, using low-cost technologies. This makes these value chains accessible for millions of people who have limited assets but can use the skills they have to benefit from the livelihood opportunities available. Yet to avoid food losses and waste along the value chain, fishers and fish workers need some skills and tools.

Pre- and post-harvest

Pre-harvest refers to the work done before the fish and other seafood is caught or harvested, while post-harvest refers to activities such as handling, processing, marketing and other work done after the fish is caught.

While the majority of those catching or harvesting fish are men, a significant number of women are involved in especially post-harvest activities. However, often, the importance of small-scale fisheries value chains – and the people engaged in them – are not fully recognized in policies and decision making.

Trade in small-scale fisheries

Trading fish, either in the local or export market, is an important source of income for fishers and fish workers. But the access to markets can be constrained by for instance a lack of information (on supply and demand, current prices, etc.), weak bargaining power, poor infrastructure for keeping the fish fresh, or difficulties in meeting quality standards set by buyers.

Recommendations in the SSF Guidelines

The SSF Guidelines call for all parts of the value chain to be recognized as important, and emphasize the need to include all who work in pre- and post-harvest activities in relevant decision-making process. They also encourage states to invest in infrastructure, organizational structures and capacity development to make sure that safe, good quality fish products reach consumers.

Furthermore, the SSF Guidelines require trade to be carried out in a fair and honest way that benefits everybody equally, and call for the need to address the problems already mentioned.  Importantly, fish exports must not mean that local people lose out when it comes to making a living or eating fish as part of a nutritious and healthy diet. States and other actors should also make sure that trade does not harm the environment, culture, or people's ways of living or well-being.

SSF Guidelines video on value-chains, post-harvest and trade

Explore the SSF Guidelines Flickr album on Value chains, post-harvest and trade

Publications

See all publications

Get to know the SSF Guidelines