Women make up nearly half of those dependent on small-scale fisheries.
Image credit: FAO/Luis Tato
A new study, published in the scientific journal Nature on 15 January, highlights the often-overlooked yet essential role of small-scale fisheries in global food security, nutrition, and livelihoods.
The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, is the first to rigorously quantify the contributions of marine and inland small-scale fisheries to global fisheries production and their impact on societal well-being.
Small-scale fisheries, which typically operate in lower- to middle-income countries using labour-intensive, low-tech fishing methods, account for nearly half of global fish catch, the study shows, providing a crucial source of nutrition for billions of people.
According to the research findings, small-scale fisheries contribute approximately 20% of the dietary intake of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids for 2.3 billion people living near coastlines or large inland water bodies - translating to 1 in 4 people worldwide.
“Our analysis shows that small-scale fisheries contribute almost half the catch across all fisheries. They have a critical role to play in meeting the food security and nutritional needs of billions of people,” said co-lead author Nicolas L. Gutierrez, senior fishery officer for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in a press release.
“Millions of people who fish marine and inland waters have essentially been flying under the radar of science and policy. Ignoring their contributions and needs could be detrimental — not just to fisherfolk, but to the environment and society as a whole,” added co-lead author Xavier Basurto, who was the Bass Chair for Excellence in Teaching and Research at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment during the time of research, and is now a faculty member of the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University.
The study also reveals the significant economic impact of small-scale fisheries, which contribute 44% of the global landed economic value from fisheries. In addition, nearly 500 million people, or about one in 12 individuals worldwide, rely on small-scale fishing for their livelihoods.
Notably, women make up nearly half of those dependent on small-scale fisheries, though their contributions have often been overlooked in research and policy, the research team notes.
“Women participate in all aspects of fishing, from prep work, to catching fish, to processing activities such as cleaning fish. They’re essential to these production systems that put food on the table for millions,” said co-author John Virdin, director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.
The research, which involved over 800 contributors from around the world, found that African small-scale fisheries make the largest contribution to global catch and nutrition, while small-scale fisheries in Oceania are vital for supporting livelihoods in the Pacific region.
These findings emphasize the importance of small-scale fisheries in areas with limited economic opportunities, where sustainable management and governance are crucial, the researchers say.
However, despite the importance of their contributions, many small-scale fishers lack formal rights to participate in decision-making or resource management. The study highlights that about two-thirds of the catch from small-scale fisheries in 51 surveyed countries comes from fishers with no authority over the management of resources. This lack of governance puts these fisheries at risk from overfishing and external competition, threatening their sustainability, the researchers say.
“Often these fishers have been rooted in aquatic environments and communities for hundreds to thousands of years. The lack of appropriate support from local or national authorities often undermines local efforts to avoid free-for-all scenarios that can easily lead to overfishing,” said Basurto.
The study calls for increased policy support for small-scale fisheries to ensure their sustainability and enhance their role in achieving key global goals, such as poverty reduction, gender equity, climate change mitigation, and better nutrition. By recognizing the integral role of small-scale fisheries, the research aims to guide policymakers in developing strategies that support these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
About the research
Funding for the study was provided by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Oak Foundation, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
The full research study, “Illuminating the Multi-dimensional Contributions of Small-Scale Fisheries", can be accessed online here.
