This document is addressed, primarily, to those concerned with small-scale fisheries development in order to facilitate the planning of small-scale fish collection and marketing facilities. It is, specifically, concerned with the identification, planning and basic designs and services needed for fish collection, handling and marketing infrastructure.
This document is oriented to the problems as they appear in developing countries and is focused on the functional planning for small-scale fish collection and marketing facilities, the requirements necessary for the introduction of improved and efficient fish marketing operations and the reduction of post-harvest losses and marketing costs.
For the purposes of this study, the definition of small-scale fisheries is that of the FAO Expert Consultation on Small-Scale Fisheries Development (Rome, 1975): “Small-scale fisheries are labour intensive and are conducted by artisanal craftsmen whose level of income, mechanical sophistication, quantity of production, fishing range, political influence, market outlets, employment and social mobility and fïnancial dependence, keep them subservient to the economic decisions and operating constraints placed upon them by those who buy their production.”
Presently, it is widely accepted that, in most developing countries, small-scale fisheries play an important role as a major source of animal protein and in the provision of employment. In these countries there are estimated to be around 20 to 30 million small-scale fishermen, to which must be added their families, fish traders and a large number of people employed in related activities, all of whom depend on small-scale fisheries for a livelihood.
Despite the enormous socio-economic importance of small-scale fisheries in these countries (Emerson, 1980), and the fact that they contribute almost half of the world's fish catch for direct human consumption, it is only in the last few years that national and international organizations have begun to show more concern for this sector (Diegues, 1983).
Most small-scale fisheries are located in rural areas, on lakes, estuaries, lagoons, and coastal areas. They are characterized by being labour-intensive and conducted by artisanal fishermen whose level of income is low, but which may be supplemented by other nonfishing activities conducted by family members. Mechanical sophistication is rather poor; catch per fishing craft and productivity per fisherman is low; the fishing range is short; political influence is slight; the catch is sold at scattered landing points and often displays with seasonal fluctuations; the small-scale fishermen often lack market power, and their alternative employment opportunities are restricted.
The importance of the family-oriented form of organization, as well as the participation of the family members in fisheries related activities should be mentioned as important characteristics of these traditional fishing communities, with most women engaged actively in sorting, processing and marketing the catch, and the children engaged in mending nets, fish processing, helping during fish landing activities and fish retailing.
Living conditions in traditional fishing communities are generally poor. Often the community lives in overcrowded conditions, in houses of poor standard (e.g., huts with thatched roofs), frequently exposed to extreme climatic conditions (cyclones, floods). Health services, drinking water supplies, roads, and transport facilities to nearby market towns are often inadequate or totally lacking.
The income level of most fishing communities is lower than many other groups engaged in rural sector activities, and, in many cases, is below the poverty line. Within the community the income structure varies according to the patterns of ownership and the family participation in fisheries related activities.
Due to the seasonality of fishing the fisherman's earnings display an uneven pattern, which often inhibits savings and leads to indebtedness.
In most small-scale fishing communities in developing countries, the traditional fish marketing system is characterized by fishermen landing their catches on scattered beaches, normally in small quantities. The fishermen have little bargain power in the markets, with most marketing activities being financed by fish traders who also function as a source of informal credit, providing necessary cash for the fishermen's family needs, especially during the extended seasonal periods of limited catch and income. This situation can create a strong inter-dependence between traders and fishermen which influences market decisions over the latter. Marketing relationships between fish traders and fishermen tend to be long-lasting, providing an assured market outlet to the small-scale fishermen and a source of steady supply to the trader. Fishermen/traders ties should be carefully evaluated when looking for new marketing strategies, taking into consideration the socio-economic conditions in which the traditional market system operates.
Small-scale fishermen in developing countries are faced with several limitations with regard to availability of resources, fishing craft, gear and techniques, landing and marketing infrastructure, access to credit and extension services, as well as organizational constraints. This study, however, will deal mainly with the landing and marketing infrastructure needs of small-scale fisheries. There are several constraints in the traditional fish marketing system:
fish being a highly perishable commodity, high post-harvest losses are common due to lack of proper handling on board, suitable shore-based fish handling, collection, marketing, storage and distribution facilities and deficiencies in marketing practices;
fishing communities are sometimes located in remote areas at considerable distances from the markets. Therefore, their catches have to be collected from village to village to obtain quantities large enough to justify costs of transportation to the markets;
poor communications make it difficult to operate efficient fish collection and distribution systems due to the problems of establishing adequate fish marketing information systems;
inadequate or misdirected government intervention and assistance schemes, e.g., due to lack of understanding of the prevalent socio-economic conditions in small-scale fisheries; establishment of costly organizations or large installations which are little used; inadequate price policies.
