Rosemarie Kishore,
Senior Research Officer,
Fisheries & Aquaculture Research Programme
Focusing on the third societal outcome – a productive ocean – the Institute of Marine Affairs continues its seven-part series on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and Sustainable Development 2021-2030.
We are all familiar with the fisherman bringing in the day’s catch, selling his fish at the market or perhaps along the roadside. However, do you know there are many more roles performed in the fishing industry? The industry includes all the processes involved in getting the fish out of the water and on to our plates; the different types of boats, fishing gear and fishing methods, the various post-harvesting processing methods and facilities, and the distribution and marketing channels of the fish and fishery products.
The available roles identified along fisheries value chains can therefore be quite diverse. Disruptions along the various value chains can lead to negative consequences both to the supply of fishery products, and to those who are dependent on them for their livelihoods. Developing strategies to reduce disruptions and creating new markets can stabilise the value chains.
Importance of fisheries
Fisheries is a valuable contributor to food security and nutrition, as it is a primary source of protein and essential nutrients. Importantly, it also provides a source of income and livelihoods and there are many who are highly dependent on these resources. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Word Bank cited by the Second World Ocean Assessment report (in prep), in 2017, 120 million people were involved in fisheries globally and those employed amounted to 40.4 million.
In addition, there was a slightly smaller workforce engaged in post-harvest processing. About 13 per cent of this workforce were women. Small Scale Fisheries (SSFs) or artisanal fisheries employed more than 90 per cent of the world’s 120 million people involved and contributed significantly to poverty alleviation.
[caption id="attachment_909493" align="alignnone" width="1024"] FILE PHOTO: Men pull seine at Grafton Beach, Black Rock. -[/caption]
Workforce statistics on fisheries for Trinidad and Tobago dates back to 2002. According to that data, 6,500 people are employed in the marine fishing sector, 4,000 of whom are fishers, about 19 per cent are involved in the processing industry, another 19 per cent in fish marketing and distribution, and the remaining one per cent in vessel and gear construction and maintenance.
The artisanal fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago is the largest sub sector, which is estimated to produce 75 to 80 per cent of total fish catches (Hutchinson et al. 2018). It is estimated that fisheries from the capture of marine fish support (directly and indirectly including their dependants) about 40,000 persons.
Livelihood options and diversity strategies
The livelihood options availa
