IIED animation: it’s time for policy to catch on to small-scale fishing

A new animation from IIED – the second instalment in a three-part series – urges policymakers around the world to recognise the value that small-scale fishing brings to national economies.

News, 15 February 2019

This vibrant industry sources over half of the global fish supply and provides jobs and livelihoods for millions of people.

Yet many small-scale fisheries and related businesses are informal and difficult to track, and their contribution to national economies goes unnoticed. Indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) recognise goods and services provided by fisheries but tend to focus on large-scale commercial fishing.

As a result, small-scale fisheries receive minimal attention from policymakers and consequently, minimal investment.

In under 90 seconds the animation, also available on IIED's YouTube channel, explains how if information on small-scale fisheries was made available – for example how many women and men the sector employs or how much fish they catch and process – people in policy would see more clearly the benefits of investment in the sector. This might include services such as refrigeration, processing facilities and roads that improve market access.

Better information leading to more informed investment decisions can increase the value of the small-scale fishing sector and help make it more sustainable.

Under a project supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), IIED is working to get small-scale fishing on the radar of fishing departments and finance ministries – so the millions of these fisheries around the world can take their true place in the economy.

Further IIED animations about an inclusive blue economy