Thumbnail Image

Regional fish trade in Eastern and Southern Africa: products and markets. A Fish Traders Guide

Year of publication 2012

Pages 58 p.

Author Kirema-Mukasa, C.

Publisher FAO/IOC ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series number SmartFish Working Paper N. 029

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Fish Trade is a major commodity exchange that makes fish to be the cheapest source of animal protein in Eastern and Southern Africa, particularly within the Great Lakes Region. The countries within the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) Region agreed to a common strategy to increase the level of social, economic and environmental development and deepen regional integration through the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. The Program for Implementation of a Regional Fisheries Strategy (IRFS Program) for ESA-IO was launched in February 2011 with Regional Fisheries Trade as one of the five components. The other four components are Fisheries governance, Fisheries management, Monitoring, Control and Surveillance and Food Security. IRFS Program is coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) on behalf of the Member States within the ESA-IO region. Fish trade across borders or frontiers is an old profession in Africa, which was done to facilitate distant com munities to access fish, which was mainly in smoked and sundried/salted form. Trade in East and Southern Africa has increased to cover countries within and outside the region, providing the population with access to fish preserved and processed through industrial and artisanal methods. The range of products has also expanded to include chilled, frozen, and canned fishery products in addition to fresh, salted, sundried, smoked and deep-fried products. The market outlets have also grown from the s olitary fish monger to specialised agents, specialised fish shops, retail stores and supermarkets, restaurants and hotels. The consumers’ demand for better quality products brings on board the quality and safety issue prompting the countries to establish Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards for fish and fishery products. Harmonising trade measures provides a freer market for Fish Traders within the same trade or economic bloc. It also provides opportunities for bilateral arrangements between nei ghbouring countries in dissimilar trade blocs. The conditions under which the regional fish trade operates vary from countries with moderate infrastructure, established measures, well packaged and labelled consignments to those with rudimentary facilities, inadequate measures, and poorly transacted business with high Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fish trade. The Fish Traders Guide primarily focuses on freshwater fishes from the Great Lakes region. It provides information on the various asp ects of the different fish types or species, fishery products and markets to enable the fish trader to plan and make informed decision. The guide encourages the trader to conduct legal trade and seek technical advice from relevant authorities. It also provides tips on qualities of a successful fish trader and successful business. The guide is neither a legal document nor an instruction material. However, it is a sensitisation instrument to promote responsible fish trading practices. It is IOC ai m to promote wise-use of the fisheries resources, increase in per capita fish consumption and increased accessibility of fish and fishery products by the population within the ESA-IO region. Responsible fish trading practices adhere to the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which is central to the sustainability of fisheries resources. Good trading practices discourage illegal fishing methods and promote optimal utilisation of the catches through value addition, improved processing a nd reduction of post-harvest losses.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Regional fish trade in eastern and southern Africa, products and markets: a fish traders guide 2012
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The fish traders guide is intended to provide vital trade information on freshwater fishery products and markets within the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The guide provides an outline of the major commercial species in the region, with some background about the species and information on the types of product forms, processing methods and nutritive values. The guide also indicates existing and potential markets where the products can be sold. It also provides information about the structure of fish trade and fish trade regulations in the region, with some pointers on how to be a trader and what make a successful trader. It is intended to be a useful background for those already trading in fish and for those interested in its potential. The guide is expected to promote better understanding, increased active participation and improved business decisions, resulting into increased fish supply, incomes, food security, fish consumption, nutrition and livelihoods. The countries selected for this guide are within the Great Lakes region, where there are major fisheries resources and also high demand for freshwater fish and fishery products.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Programme for the Implementation of a Regional Fisheries Strategy for the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Region. Regional Market Assessment: Supply and Demand 2012
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This report contains a market assessment of the 19 African countries receiving support under an EU-funded programme called SmartFish1. The purpose of the assessment was to identify national production trends (e.g. decline or increase) with regard to capture fisheries (fish caught wild) and aquaculture (fish farming) as well as future potentials with regards to further production and increased regional trade. Threats to current production as well as to future developments were also identified. Fu rthermore, for each of the countries, import and export flows of fish and fish products were examined, as well as the demand for the products (within, as well as outside the countries).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Processing and marketing of small-sized pelagics in Eastern and Southern Africa 2013
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This simplified manual is a genesis of the technical training manual and directed at the end- users to allow for the easy application of improved techniques by the fish processors and traders. Customers are urged to demand better quality products as a means of promoting the wider use of improved processing techniques and enhancements to regional fish trade. Use of the Manual will enhance trade in quality and safe Dagaa products.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.