From vulnerability to viability: A situational analysis of small-scale fisheries in Asia and Africa
Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, Derek Armitage, Prateep Kumar Nayak, Shehu Latunji Akintola, Evans Arizi, Ratana Chuenpagdee, Basanta Kumar Das, Sabiha Ahmed Diba, Raktima Ghosh, Moenieba Isaacs, Gazi Md. Nurul Islam, Alioune Kane, Yinji Li, Moffat Mzama Manase, Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, Paul Onyango, Sarmistha Pattanaik, Aliou Sall, Indah Susilowati, Sika Abrokwah, Denis Worlanyo Aheto, Olajumoke Akiode, Afful Chineboaba Araba, Foluke Omotayo Areola, Frederick Ato Armah, Esinam Attipoe, Aliyu Danagalan, Piyashi Debroy, Alyne Delaney, Mariama Dieng, Kafayat Adetoun Fakoya, Aini Nur Furoida, Cheikh Gaye, Adama Guèye, Fama Gueye, Mafaniso Hara, Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, Taofeek Iyanda, Kungwan Juntarashote, Ayorinde Kappo, Ishmael Bobby Mphangwe Kosamu, Hapsari Ayu Kusumawardhani, Tracey Lee, Fatou Gueye, Jenia Mukherjee, Tamano Namikawa, Sachiko Harada, Friday Njaya, Pranaya Kumar Parida, Betty Ngui Chiew Pieng, Made Ika Prasetyadewi, Erwin Prayogi, Daniel Quilter, Syed Tauheed Raihan, Aparna Roy, Alberta Ama Sagoe, Madalo Esther Samati, Clément Sambou, Revarunan Sammogam, Alassane Sarr, Khady Yama Sarr, Suvaluck Satumanatpan, Izumi Seki, Samiya Ahmed Selim, Amrita Sen, Oumar Sow, I Gusti Lanang Putu Tantra, Suphakarn Traesupap, Vanessa Warren, Batuli Mohammed Yahya, Thamasak Yeemin, Sevil Berenji, Jessica Blythe, Alida Bundy, Simron Jit Singh
Abstract
Small-scale fisheries (SSF) support over 90% of the 120 million people engaged in capture fisheries globally. Despite their contributions, SSF communities are often economically and politically marginalised, are highly vulnerable to change, and until recently, remained largely invisible in policy debates in most countries and internationally. This paper undertakes a situational analysis of 12 countries with significant small-scale fisheries (i.e., Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand) to better understand the context in which they might transition from vulnerability to viability. Several insights emerge from this analysis. First, we identify the social and ecological drivers of change that exacerbate vulnerability and undermine SSF viability by focusing on five key domains: economic/development, ecological and environmental, social and cultural, governance and management, and emerging issues. Second, we highlight several cross-cutting issues and challenges facing SSF, including increasing attention to gender and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the situational analysis highlights several key policy and governance dimensions that are being explored in countries as potential enablers of more viable SSF. These include community-centered approaches and gender inclusion initiatives. Such governance interventions can also catalyze unintended vulnerabilities as vulnerability and viability are linked and dynamic processes. This situational analysis was co-developed as part of a global network of SSF researchers and practitioners across Africa and Asia. Outcomes of the situational analysis can be used to catalyze additional country and regional scale assessments and leverage opportunities for governance of small-scale fisheries.