Raised drying racks enable fish to be dried off of the ground faster and in a cleaner environment.  

For example, in the United Republic of Tanzania, sardine processors recognize that fish dries faster on raised platforms, resulting in an end product that is free from sand. Buyers take notice of the quality, and are prepared to pay a good price. In Uganda, the use of drying racks has reduced the loss of lake sardine (Rastrineobola argentea) to a negligible level.  

Drying racks can be made from wood or metal. When investing in a drying rack, it is important to take note of the quality of the drying surface. The surface should be a durable, rot-proof and clean material which doesn’t tear or need to be renewed on a periodic basis. 

Work in India under the ODA Bay of Bengal Programme examined the use of racks to reduce FLW in the anchovy processing sector. The project demonstrated that raised drying racks could improve quality and contribute to value-addition. The project also involved the development of regional market linkages. The full case study can be accessed here.

The use of drying racks can also be seen in this video of improved anchovy processing.

Mechanical dryers can be used to dry fish in all weather, at any time and to a uniform standard. They typically require energy which can be supplied by electricity, combustion of wooden materials or bio-digestion which can be costly. However, the investment and running costs will demand the production of high value products.  

A high tech mechanical drying is shown in this video.

Solar dryers are efficient at capturing the sun’s energy. Fish are placed on racks inside enclosed structures and covered in polythene. Solar dryers can be costly to make, require maintenance, and need sunny conditions in order to operate effectively. It may therefore prove challenging to operate solar dryers in times of poor weather conditions.

The use of an experimental solar dryer in shown in this video.

Additionally, an example from Malawi can be found in this video.

Other traditional preservation methods, such as salting and smoking, can be used instead of drying to avoid reliance on the sun’s energy.