HIV and AIDS in small-scale fishing communities

The development community has been slower to recognize that fishing communities in low and middle-income countries worldwide constitute one of the highest risk groups for HIV/AIDS. Though not all fishers engage in risky behavior there are a number of factors that increase the risk to this community. These may include:

• Demographic structure, high levels of single men in sexually active age groups;
• High rates of mobility and migration;
• Easy availability of cash income on a regular basis;
• Poverty and gender inequality that marginalize women in commercial transactions, making them vulnerable to sexually exploitative relations;
• Poor health service infrastructure and condom availability;
• Generally poor health and hygiene status in fishing camps;
• A culture of risk taking and perception of low social status among many fishermen.

Few HIV/AIDS programs have specifically targeted fishing communities; the issue has received scant policy attention. There is a need for a much larger and more coordinated effort by a wide range of organizations and groups to develop, resource and implement policies to reduce and counter the effects of HIV/AIDS in fishing communities.

As part of its initial response to the tragedy of HIV/AIDS amongst fishers, WorldFish Center organized a conference in Lusaka, Zambia titled Responding to HIV and AIDS in the Fishery Sector in Africa.

Video “Deadly Catch”