Fish loss assessment and reduction - field based methods

Partners:
Fisheries Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
West African Association for the Development of Artisanal Fisheries, Sénégal
Institut du Technologie Alimentaire,  Sénégal
INFOPECHE, Ivory Coast
University of Cocody, Department of Geography, Ivory Coast
Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Ghana
Dept. of Agric Economics & Farm Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Nigeria

Problem:
Post-harvest fish losses occur at many stages of the post-harvest chain from capture to consumption and have long been a concern of development practitioners who wish to improve the livelihoods of fishermen, processors and traders and the contribution fish makes to food security. What makes the problem of fish loss particularly acute is that it occurs against a backdrop of dwindling or static supplies of fish from wild capture fisheries. Recognition of the important problem fish loss poses is reflected in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) which promotes fish loss reduction.

One of the major constraints faced by development practitioners in many countries is the lack of information on the type of fish loss that occurs, the extent and effects post-harvest fish losses have on people’s livelihoods and on food security. In order to effectively plan and allocate development resources to tackle the problem of losses requires an understanding of some, or all, of these issues to be in place. 

Achievements:
In response three field-based fish loss assessment methods were developed and finalised. The methods are designed to provide information which will inform poverty focussed loss reduction intervention, monitoring, planning and policy making for the development of the post-harvest fisheries sector. The following methods are designed for use by intermediary organizations such as research institutes, extension agents and NGOs in conjunction with poor post-harvest fisheries stakeholders:

1. Informal fish loss assessment (IFLAM) – a practical, flexible way to quickly generate qualitative and indicative quantitative data on post-harvest fish losses. This method is based on the tools and principles associated with rapid and participatory rural appraisal (RRA and PRA) research and development methods.  It is used to identify and understand where key losses occur and who is affected.


2. Load Tracking (LT) – is used to quantify losses associated with an activity or between different stages of a distribution chain. It is normally used following the application of IFLAM. A quantitative understanding of losses can be used to determine the effectiveness of loss reduction interventions.


3. Questionnaire Loss Assessment Method (QLAM) – is a formal questionnaire survey approach to quantitatively understand the type of loss incurred, reasons for loss and the variables, which affect loss such as fishing gear or processing method. It can be used to validate the results of IFLAM and LT over a wide geographical area or across fishing communities.