The species groups have been identified in many FAO reports and sardine-like species, herrings, pilchards and mackerels provide the major supply. They are caught by a wide range of fishing gears from the traditional to modern methods of high technology and are characterized by their abundance and seasonality. This leads to specific problems as these small fish are more susceptible to physical damage than large ones and thus accelerated spoilage. Careful handling and adequate preservation techniques are necessary to maintain a good quality level if the fish are marketed for human consumption.
Fishing operations have received considerable attention and investment but the problems of handling, processing and marketing large quantities of small pelagic species have often been ignored with the result that the fish meal industry has provided the main marketing outlet for a large number of these fisheries. If this situation is to be redressed then there is a great need for investment to be applied throughout the marketing chain.
If the premise that an expansion of markets for small pelagic species can be achieved through improvements in quality and by a reduction in wastage is accepted, then, the concept of a marketing chain that commences at sea on board the fishing vessel and ends with the consumer is appropriate for the investigation of investment projects.
The solutions for each fishery will be different and depend upon the following:
the availability of fish resources;
population and its urban-rural distribution;
consumption behaviour in domestic markets;
export potential;
infrastructure and current productive capacity.
The universal and over-riding practical requirement is to chill the fish immediately it comes on board, and ideally the fish should be held in chilled sea water (CSW) if strict quality control is to be maintained. There is considerable potential for investment if vessels can be converted to CSW storage or if new vessel designs can incorporate this facility. However, if good quality is to be maintained throughout the marketing chain, some investment in infrastructure might be desirable in order to remove flow constraints and improve quality. Again, the use of CSW storage is ideal, but where this is not possible then ice can be used as an alternative. A further area requiring investment is the distribution network with its insulated trucks and chill-stores.
If projects incorporating these investments are to be successful, it is important that changes in technology are compatible with the prevailing development situation in the country concerned. It is also essential that the value-added to the fish results in a situation where marginal earnings are commensurate with costs.
