Small-scale fisheries

• offer food security and improve nutrition

• reduce poverty through fish-based economic activities

• offer alternative livelihood strategies in ‘hard times’

• drive rural economic growth and development

• increase national trade balances from the sale of fish and other aquatic products

Offer food security and improve nutrition
Fish is a major dietary staple in much of the developing word. Its strong nutritional value as a source of high-quality protein, fatty acids, and many micronutrients essential for good health complements the starch-heavy diets that are common among the world’s poor. In some countries of Asia and Africa, fish provides the bulk of the protein that people consume (as high as 75% in Cambodia).

Reduce poverty through fish-based economic activities
At the same time, fish capture, processing, and trade supports millions of poor families, whether as a primary livelihood or to supplement other income-generating activities. Throughout the countryside of Bangladesh, for example, two out of three people derive at least part of their living from small-scale fishing or fish-farming.

Reduce poverty through fish-based economic activities
Many poor people working in agriculture turn temporarily to fisheries to supplement their incomes when crops fail or livestock are hit by disease. In this way small-scale fisheries provide a safety net for survival.

Drive rural economic growth and development
Small-scale fisheries pump cash into local economies, and often have strong multiplier effects. A study in Cameroon found that investing one million Central African francs in the fishing sector brought a return of 6.3 million francs in the country’s economy. In Africa’s Lake Victoria area, the value of fish exports now exceeds that of tea and coffee exports, significantly strengthening national budgets.

Increase national trade balances from the sale of fish and other aquatic products
As the demand for fish soars worldwide, small-scale fish producers, processors, and traders could, with adequate support, benefit hugely from the growing globalization of trade. Fish is the most heavily traded commodity in international markets, valued at $18 billion a year. More than two-thirds of the world’s total fish supply is already produced and consumed in developing countries, and that share is projected to rise to 80% by 2020.