Artisanal Fishing: Need
Artisanal fishing (also referred to as ‘small
scale fishing’) provides food and livelihoods for vast numbers of people around
the world, particularly in developing nations.
This indicator estimates the need individuals and households have for the opportunity to catch fish as a main source of protein or as an item to sell or trade locally for other foods or items necessary for life. Artisanal fishing typically has relatively small running costs and fish are caught primarily for local consumption rather than export or commercial purposes.
This indicator estimates the need individuals and households have for the opportunity to catch fish as a main source of protein or as an item to sell or trade locally for other foods or items necessary for life. Artisanal fishing typically has relatively small running costs and fish are caught primarily for local consumption rather than export or commercial purposes.
Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
For each country, the likely need for artisanal
fishing opportunities was represented by the average ability of its citizens to
buy the items they required; a low ability to buy these items suggested a
higher need for artisanal fishing opportunities.
The Ocean Health Index (OHI) obtained data on per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2012 USD) for each country from the World Bank. GDP values were then adjusted by population size to get per capita GDP and by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to account for the difference in exchange rates between countries. The final values, Purchasing Power Parity adjusted per capita Gross Domestic Product (PPPpcGDP) were used to represent the need for artisanal fishing opportunities.
The Ocean Health Index (OHI) obtained data on per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2012 USD) for each country from the World Bank. GDP values were then adjusted by population size to get per capita GDP and by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to account for the difference in exchange rates between countries. The final values, Purchasing Power Parity adjusted per capita Gross Domestic Product (PPPpcGDP) were used to represent the need for artisanal fishing opportunities.
What Are The Impacts?
Local Communities Depend Upon Artisanal Fishing as a Source of Food and Livelihoods
Download Infographic
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
Small-scale fisheries tend to be more sustainable
than large-scale operations.
Over-fishing is less of a risk with small-scale fisheries than with large-scale operations.
Over-fishing is less of a risk with small-scale fisheries than with large-scale operations.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT
Millions of people worldwide depend upon seafood
to meet their daily protein needs. Small
scale fisheries supply protein to communities that may be remote or have
limited access to other markets or food sources.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Artisanal fishing provides jobs for tens of
millions of people both directly and indirectly (e.g. fish processing or
marketing).
Artisanal fishing includes 90% of all fishing jobs worldwide, approximately 45% of the world’s fisheries, and nearly a quarter of the world catch (Schorr 2005).
Costs associated with artisanal fishing tend to be lower than those of commercial fisheries due to lower fuel consumption and running costs for boats, which tend to make shorter trips close to shore.
Comparatively, artisanal and commercial fisheries catch the same amount of fish for human consumption (30 million tons), yet artisanal fisheries employ 25 times the number of fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries annually (Jaquet and Pauly 2008).
Artisanal fishing includes 90% of all fishing jobs worldwide, approximately 45% of the world’s fisheries, and nearly a quarter of the world catch (Schorr 2005).
Costs associated with artisanal fishing tend to be lower than those of commercial fisheries due to lower fuel consumption and running costs for boats, which tend to make shorter trips close to shore.
Comparatively, artisanal and commercial fisheries catch the same amount of fish for human consumption (30 million tons), yet artisanal fisheries employ 25 times the number of fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries annually (Jaquet and Pauly 2008).
What Has Been Done?
Sustainable Fishing Practices in Costa Rica
Artisanal fishers in Costa Rica now use bottom long-lines to catch spotted snapper (Lutianus guttatus) sustainably; this technique does not over-exploit the snappers and it does not harm the habitat. The Ministry of Environment has established two Marine Protected Areas that allow use of bottom long-lines, but not shrimp trawls or gillnets. The fishermen market the snappers to local hotels and restaurants at a premium price, providing incentive to continue sustainable fishing practices. The project was one of the 2010 winners of Geotourism Challenge 2010: Places on the Edge - Saving Coastal and Freshwater Destinations, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Ashoka, and is being evaluated for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Brandon Puckett/Marine Photobank
Get More Information
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) The World Factbook
Country Comparison: GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
Fishery Dependent Information (FDI) 2010
A conference that brings together scientists,
managers, policy makers and fishers to explore available options for the
collection and interpretation of fishery dependent data.
References
Jacquet, J. and Pauly, D. (2008). Funding
priorities: Big barriers to small-scale fisheries. Conservation
Biology 22(4): 832-835.
PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen