Improving livelihoods through exporting artisanally processed fish.

A study was carried on the export of traditional African fishery products to “ethnic” markets in the European Union, United States and Canada. The study was conducted in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana and covered export plants, their suppliers, the competent authorities for sanitary certification, the fisheries departments, export promotion councils, and other stakeholders. The main export-oriented traditional fish products identified were smoke-dried fish and shrimps, sun-dried fish and live crabs. In both countries the socio-economic importance of traditional fish processing and export operations is considerably higher than indicated by official statistics, contributing to incomes of artisanal fishermen and women fish processors, incomes of small-scale fish exporters, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Also the contribution to responsible fisheries was underestimated. There are indications of unsatisfied demand but further growth of the sub-sector would depend on overcoming certain weaknesses identified by the study, such as weaknesses of competent authorities in effectively enforcing regulations, limited knowledge by operators of the sanitary regulations, misuse in some cases of registration numbers and inclusion of products from non-registered producers in consignments from registered ones, police harassments, low awareness among authorities of the importance of the trade, and lack of organization within the sub-sector. Also, the design of the facilities and of the smoking operations themselves seemed rather wasteful of fuel wood. As a direct result of the study, authorities already committed themselves in reviewing the certification process in order to address its cumbersomeness and match the quality assurance systems with the rationale and systematic approach within the global sanitary concept; to deploy staff to exit points; and to improve relations with operators and providing them more advisory services. They moreover confirmed the need for an in-depth study of the whole small-scale export sub-sector and for inclusion of the sub-sector in assistance programmes on the basis of a justification consistent with its importance for livelihoods in artisanal fisheries. Within the framework of an assistance programme certain actions would need to be addressed with priority, including developing standards for premises, raw material, processes, products, administration and export procedures; preparing a field guide for operators and extension workers on technical and sanitary requirements; providing training in quality assurance and simple book-keeping; and upgrading the facilities and operations. It is furthermore recommended to conduct similar studies in other relevant countries.