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An exploration of the post-harvest activities of the Olifants Estuary Small-Scale Fishery: recommendations for equitable market access and beneficiation
Small-scale Fisheries (SSFs) play a key role in poverty alleviation of rural coastal populations through the provision of food security and income generation. Yet, many SSFs fail to maximise the value potential of the seafood products they produce as a result of post-harvest losses and marketing cha...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Environmental and Geographical Science
2021
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| Summary: | Small-scale Fisheries (SSFs) play a key role in poverty alleviation of rural coastal populations through the provision of food security and income generation. Yet, many SSFs fail to maximise the value potential of the seafood products they produce as a result of post-harvest losses and marketing challenges. SSFs within South Africa are no exception and are particularly disadvantaged as a result of historical discrimination, marginalisation, management, data deficiencies and inequitable market access. The financial, technical and information challenges that characterize small-scale fisher households present many barriers to accessing and maximizing market opportunities. Worldwide, and in South Africa, understanding of post-harvest losses, limitations and market constraints, is limited. Therefore, this research aims to better understand the post-harvest activities of the small-scale fishers of the Olifants estuary in order to identify opportunities for value addition and improved market access. A mixed-methods approach was employed including analysing data from community fisher logbooks and conducting semi-structured interviews with both fishers and marketers. This research has demonstrated that inadequate facilities, lack of technology and transport as well as limited knowledge have all contributed to post-harvest losses and affected the income potential for these fishers. Inequitable market forces have been shown to exist in the Olifants fishery value chain. Consequently, these small-scale fishers are price-takers since they lack the capacity required to participate in value chain negotiations and development. Furthermore, these fishers are vulnerable to the consequences of poor governance, the vagaries of marketers and the misperceptions and preferences of consumers regarding their fish products. Recommendations include building capacity and skills of the Olifants fishers to professionalise their operation, adjusting several of their postharvest activities and incorporating those suggestions offered by the marketplace that are achievable. |
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