A VALUE-CHAIN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY WITH AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE SMALL-SCALE SECTOR

A FAO PROJECT WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF NORAD

Background: Fish exports a major source of income for developing countries

Fish exports and trade is a major source of income for developing countries. They now represent close to 50% of global fish exports with annual export revenues exceeding US$ 25 billion. Jobs are created in production, processing and trade, and local food-security is also strengthened through the nutritional contribution of fish to human consumption. In fish production, capture fisheries as well as fish farming, a large share is carried out by the small-scale sector. It is therefore of crucial importance to arrive at polices that safeguard the interests of the small-scale producers not only by enabling them to access national, regional and/or international markets but also to obtain prices and margins that let them achieve long-term sustainability from an economic, social and biological resource perspective.

Project objective: Improved knowledge of value-chain dynamics

The objective of the project is to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics of relevant value-chains in international fish trade and arrive at policy recommendations. The project will analyse the distribution of benefits in the value-chain and the linkages between the relative benefits obtained and the design of the chain. Comparisons will be made between domestic, regional and international valuechains with the view to understand better how developing countries can increase the value derived from their fishery resources. The project will include capture fisheries marine and freshwater as well as aquaculture.

Case studies: Small-scale sector in 11 developing country studies, 2 developed countries

Asia The Maldives Bangladesh Thailand Vietnam Cambodia

Africa Morocco Malawi Kenya Mozambique

Central and South America Honduras Peru Industrial countries Japan Canada Additional countries Norway - Norwegian funding Ghana - World Bank

For each country, at least two outputs are required:

1.Background report on relevant fisheries and aquaculture value chains. 2. Price linkages analysis. The purposes of the price linkages study is to analyse the factors that determine prices and margins throughout the valuechain as well as the distribution of benefits among the various stakeholders. Particular attention will be given to processing in order to compare the difference in value creation from the export of unprocessed and processed fish. A synthesis report will be written on the bases of the case studies, surveys of value chains and other relevant literature.

Dissemination of results:
Once reports are finalised, they will in the first instance be published on a project website. It is also encouraged that they are published in relevant scientific and trade journals. The results from the project report will be disseminated through complementary activities of FAO and presented at FAO conferences such as the COFI Sub-Committee on fish trade. The results will be used in follow-up work at the field-level and included in specific projects benefiting smallscale operators. Further dissemination will be carried out at the local level in the countries of study. Particular attention will be given to providing feedback to all local informants, interviewees and their communities.

Project consultants

Lead consultant: Professor Trond Bjorndal

International consultants: Dr. Madan Dey Dr. Achini De Silva

International steering committee:

Blessing Mapfumo, INFOSA, Namibia Dr. Richard Abila, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Sebastian Mathew, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers, India Rune Castberg, NORAD Dr. Audun Lem, FAO

Timeline 2011

March-April: Reports for Asian countries industrialised countries to be completed

and

March or April: Project meeting with African consultants (tbc) April: Background reports for African countries

June-July: Price linkages reports for African countries.

September: Synthesis report.