{"id":4899,"date":"2024-09-12T06:38:47","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T06:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diinsiderlife.com\/?p=4899"},"modified":"2024-09-12T07:50:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T07:50:17","slug":"potential-of-small-scale-fisheries-in-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diinsiderlife.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/12\/potential-of-small-scale-fisheries-in-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Untapped Potential of Small-Scale Fisheries in Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At the break of dawn, millions of boats dot the coastlines of Asia, their occupants ready to set out for the day’s catch. These are not big commercial vessels nor industrial fishing fleets, but the backbone of a hidden subsector that feeds nations and supports countless livelihoods.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Small-scale fisheries contribute 40% or 37 million tons of the world’s total catch<\/a>. In Asia, their significance is even more pronounced, with the region contributing nearly two-thirds of the global catch from 2013 to 2017.<\/p>\n\n

As Asia grapples with pressing issues of food security, poverty, and environmental sustainability, these humble fishing operations may hold the key to a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n

Contributions to sustainable development<\/h3>\n\n

When it comes to livelihood, 490+ million people depend on small-scale fishing activity, including employed workers, subsistence fishers, and household members. Notably, women constitute 40% of this workforce, highlighting a significant level of gender representation.<\/p>\n\n

Their catch is substantial enough to provide nearly a billion women with half their recommended omega-3 fatty acid intake. Additionally, it could supply almost half a billion women with over 20% of the recommended intake for calcium, selenium, and zinc.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cSmall-scale fishermen play an important role in supplying fresh seafood to domestic and some premium markets like hotels, kitchens, and restaurants,\u201d says Wichoksak Ronnarongpairee, a manager of the Federation of Thai Fisher Folk Association, in The Bangkok Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Traditional small-scale fishing techniques target mature specimens of specific species, allowing juvenile fish to escape, thus ensuring future stocks and preserving the ecosystem. In contrast, commercial fishing operations deploy indiscriminate methods to maximize catch volume, raising concerns about sustainability.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cTheir fishing methods preserve the quality of fish and sustain the ocean,\u201d Wichoksak concludes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n


Among 424 producer organizations globally, 99% have goals related to sustainable fisheries management and 60% have human well-being targets.<\/p>\n\n

Small-scale fishers address environmental and resource challenges through local networks focused on marine conservation<\/a>, implementing measures like mangrove and sea grass protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

In Thailand, fishermen in southern provinces initiated a grassroots movement that eventually led to the establishment of the Federation of Thai Fisherfolks Association (FTFFA) in 2010. This organization has since spearheaded various marine restoration projects, including the creation of artificial fish habitats and the rehabilitation of coral and mangrove ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n

The FTFFA’s efforts extend beyond conservation to include economic empowerment. Its commercial arm, Fisherfolk<\/a>, touches on the Sustainable Development Goals: It incentivizes sustainable fishing by offering higher prices for responsibly caught fish and involves women in processing catches into frozen seafood products.<\/p>\n\n

After a decade, fishermen report catching a wider variety of fish species and saw their daily catches increase to 40-50 kilograms.<\/p>\n\n

Similarly, Kapunungan sa Gagmay\u2019ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) was founded by fisherfolk in 1986, with the aim to address declining fisheries and mangrove depletion in southeastern Philippines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

KGMC restored 10,000 to 12,000 hectares<\/a> of mangroves across the province of Zamboanga Sibugay through community organizing, environmental education, and rehabilitation projects. This brought back various species to Sibuguey Bay, revitalizing the local ecosystem and industry.<\/p>\n\n

To combat pollution that threaten the coastline, they also organize a solid waste management intervention on a bi-monthly basis. Each fisherfolk and their family members are invited to participate in a raffle program that incentivizes participation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

They can bring their collected trash to enter the raffle, where they have a chance to win money. Sometimes, participants also get to go home with rice and canned goods as prizes.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThis is one of the ways we support small-scale fishers and farmers in our community,\u201d Princess Rhya Ballon, a member of KGMC, says in Tagalog.<\/p>\n\n

Challenges abound<\/h3>\n\n

Small-scale fisheries exist on a continuum from individual foot fishers to operators of semi-industrial vessels. While most countries have their own definitions based on factors like vessel size, gear type, or area of operation, these limited characterizations often fail to capture the true nature of the subsector.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m advocating for us to be called \u2018artisanal fisherfolk\u2019 instead of \u2018small-scale fisherfolk,\u2019\u201d says Roberto \u2018Ka Dodoy\u2019 Ballon, the founder of KGMC and the chairperson of the Coalition of Municipal Fisherfolk Associations (COMFAS).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

He explains that artisanal fishers fish directly in the waters on a daily basis to earn their livelihoods. \u201cWe are fisherfolk who use small types of boats and fish within 15 kilometers of municipal waters. We are not part of commercial fishing boats.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Challenges include limited access to resources such as fishing grounds, technology, and capital. For one, only 3% of exclusive economic zones<\/a> are designated for small-scale fisheries.<\/p>\n\n

According to Philippine law, fishery activities within 15 kilometers from the general coastline<\/a> should be used primarily by municipal fisherfolk, which are mostly small-scale fishers. However, Ka Dodoy reports that commercial vessels are often found in these waters.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cEven until now, commercial fishers intrude on areas dedicated to artisanal fisherfolk. They take all the fishes and ruin the corals because of the gear they use; sometimes, they even use dynamite.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

He admits that protection from government agencies is lacking, especially when it comes to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.<\/p>\n\n

Small-scale fishers in Thailand also struggle to compete with commercial vessels and illegal fishing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWhen Thailand received the yellow card from the EU, it felt like our voices were being heard,\u201d admits Piya Tetyam, the president of the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk in The Maritime Executive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Thailand’s small-scale fisheries received an unexpected boost in 2015 when the European Union, a major seafood buyer, issued a yellow card to the country. The yellow card is an official warning issued to trading partners that fall short of tackling unauthorized activities.<\/p>\n\n

In response, local authorities cracked down on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, prosecuting over 4,200 cases from 2015 to 2018. Foreign, commercial vessels bore the brunt of the enforcement, with fines totaling more than 100 million baht (approximately $2.7 million).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Community rights of small-scale fishers were also endorsed<\/a> in the 2017 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

These efforts led to enhanced sustainability and conservation practices in Thailand’s fisheries sector by 2019, although recent proposed regulatory changes threaten to undermine this progress<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Data gaps are another problem. Low priority is given to monitoring catch from small-scale fisheries, leading to underreporting or complete omission in national data collection systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

This issue is further compounded by limited budgets and a lack of capacity for adequate monitoring and reporting. Incomplete or inadequately disaggregated data hinders effective policy-making and support for the subsector.<\/p>\n\n

Despite generating $77 billion in global revenues, many small-scale fishing communities remain marginalized. Poverty is described as a \u201cglobal characteristic\u201d<\/a> of these communities, and is worsened by the impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cAmong the problems faced by small-scale fisherfolk are storms, rain, and strong winds and waves. Because of this, they can\u2019t earn a living,\u201d Princess explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Intense typhoons are projected to increase due to climate change, according to a 2023 study by the University of the Philippines Diliman<\/a> College of Science\u2019s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UPD-CS IESM).<\/p>\n\n

Next steps<\/h3>\n\n

The untapped potential of small-scale fisheries in Asia holds the key to sustainable development and community resilience. By addressing data gaps, empowering local fishers, and integrating the multifaceted contributions of these fisheries into broader policies, it is possible to unlock their full value and ensure a more equitable, sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n

To address the existing data gaps in small-scale fisheries, a standardized characterization matrix developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)<\/a> offers a promising solution. The tool helps differentiate small-scale fisheries from larger ones, providing crucial insights for effective management and policy implementation at various levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

By utilizing this matrix, stakeholders can better identify the scale and scope of fisheries, leading to more targeted interventions that consider the full range of benefits these fisheries offer, from livelihoods to nutrition and cultural significance.<\/p>\n\n

FAO also stresses in a 2023 study<\/a> that small-scale fisheries should be recognized not merely as economic activities but as multidimensional livelihood portfolios that contribute significantly to sustainable development. Effective strategies must be developed to harness the full value chain benefits of small-scale fisheries, particularly for vulnerable populations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Additionally, empowering fishers and fishworkers to participate equitably in governance is essential for sustainable management. Greater institutional diversity and inclusive decision-making processes must be established, ensuring that the voices of those directly involved in small-scale fisheries are heard and respected at all levels of governance.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re surrounded by water. We are rich in marine resources but our laws and programs are wrong. And because of that, so many fisherfolk are still poor,\u201d Ka Dodoy laments, saying fisherfolk ought to have a seat at the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Small-scale fisherfolk are calling for meaningful involvement in shaping the policies and projects that affect their communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

In the case of the Philippines, Ka Dodoy suggests creating a department of fisheries and aquatic resources. \u201cIn Asia, it\u2019s only us that have a bureau. Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand have a fisheries department, meanwhile we\u2019re still under the secretary. We need a department so we can have a better budget and create better programs,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n\n

Small-scale fisherfolk insist that any initiative should start with their active participation, including consultations, joint problem analysis, and collaborative planning from the outset. A fisherfolk in a report by Asia Pacific Research Network<\/a> affirms, \u201cDon\u2019t just look at us as fishermen without any knowledge and understanding\u2026 If we weren\u2019t given space and opportunity, we would be overlooked and unable to truly engage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not saying no to development. Our only request is that developments can benefit us instead of adversely affect us,\u201d Ka Dodoy concludes.<\/p>\n\n

Through collective effort, the untapped potential of small-scale fisheries in Asia can be fully realized, contributing to both the sustainability of the sector and the well-being of the communities that depend on it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the break of dawn, millions of boats dot the coastlines of Asia, their occupants ready to set out for the day’s catch. These are not big commercial vessels nor industrial fishing fleets, but the backbone of a hidden subsector that feeds nations and supports countless livelihoods.\u00a0 Small-scale fisheries contribute 40% or 37 million tons 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