The Winners and Losers in the Finfish Trade on Mafia Island A Value Chain Analysis
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Sciences
Abstract
Fish trade on Mafia Island involves several players in the value chain
from fishing to the plate, either on Mafia Island or mainland Tanzania. This paper
investigates the different actors in the value chain to establish how much each of
them invests in the process of adding value to fish as a traded commodity, and how
much they gain from it, with the intention of establishing who are the winners
and losers in the fish trade. The results showed that small-scale fishers in Mafia
are mostly on the losing side, spending long hours preparing for and undertaking
the risky activity of fishing in rudimentary canoes, plus the cost of maintenance
and the acquisition of their fishing gear. Due to their disadvantaged position and
lacking the necessary facilities for the preservation and storage of their catch, they
are forced to sell it at low prices in prearranged market arrangements to avoid
spoilage and, therefore, incur loss. The findings of this study indicated where a
major policy change would improve fishers’ welfare. Arrangements need to be
made for small-scale fishers and female fish vendors to access markets to improve
their gain at most fish landing and trading sites. This would help to reward the hard
work and risk taken by fishers and women fish vendors, and reduce their poverty.
Description
Keywords
Value chain, market arrangements, finfish trade, economic winners and losers, bargaining power
Citation
Kulindwa, K. and Lokina, R., 2014. The Winners and Losers in Finfish Trade in Mafia Island: A Value chain analysis. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 12(2), pp.151-168.