Sustainable small-scale fisheries markets in the Mediterranean: weaknesses and opportunities

Abstract

Improved access to markets by small-scale fisheries (SSF), as called by Sustainable Development Goal 14b and other global and Mediterranean policy documents, is impeded by the existing organisation of value chains and market structures, which are typically antagonistic to the nature of SSF. This article analyses the markets in the Mediterranean to map the drivers and feedback loops that keep fisheries in an unsustainable trajectory and reviews the key innovations in support of a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable small-scale fishing sector. We show how the current market is dominated by lack of product traceability and underappreciation of the inherent value of SSF products (e.g. local production, freshness, season dependence, quantitatively and culinary varied nature). In addition, due to a lack of organisation and the capacity to act, small-scale fishers are poised to have little to no influence over the price. In what we conceptualise as a response to the negative effects of existing market structures, we identify and classify initiatives that add value to SSF products, but not exclusively. These are the shortening of the value chain, innovation in the distribution channel, diversification in the type of product offered, promotion and education regarding SSF products, label and brand development and the empowerment of SSF communities through improved leadership, ownership, cooperation and coordination. We provide examples of these activities and propose the key types of intervention at various levels of governance to accelerate and capitalise on them in order to accomplish policy goals and achieve a better status of both the oceans and the fishers.

Smartphone application use in commercial wild capture fisheries

“…Innovation in distribution channels and direct sales apps can provide a way to boost incomes for fishers, and to fish to meet market demands, reducing waste and costs (Penca et al 2021 ). Accelerated use of ICT solutions for use in distribution has indeed been seen in the SSF sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with a need for many fishers to expand their customer bases due to restaurant closures (Penca et al 2021 ). Whether the demand for such direct sales apps continues post pandemic remains to be seen but many of these examples show how the industry can adopt smartphone technology themselves.…”

“…The aim of many of these apps is to provide a fair price for fishers. Fresh Fish Alert, an app for use in Sicily, Italy places an emphasis on sustainability with producers having to follow a strict set of social and environmental guidelines to list their catches on the app (Penca et al 2021 ), while Blue Lobster in Denmark also emphasizes the low impact of its registered fishers (Blue Lobster 2020 ).…”

Multi‐specific small‐scale fisheries rely on few, locally essential, species: Evidence from a multi‐area study in the Mediterranean

“…Stability is an important feature for fishers. Strong fluctuations in revenues, because of either volatile product prices or unpredictable catches, in fact, can induce fishers to look for ways to prevent poor catches, generally increasing fishing effort, thus potentially generating negative loops in the long term (Penca et al, 2021).…”

“…Stability is an important feature for fishers. Strong fluctuations in revenues, because of either volatile product prices or unpredictable catches, in fact, can induce fishers to look for ways to prevent poor catches, generally increasing fishing effort, thus potentially generating negative loops in the long term (Penca et al, 2021). In this sense, the comparison of catches with the important species (ISC) and those without it (AOC) within each area further underlines the paramount importance that a single species can assume in (1) determining higher CPUEs and RPUEs and (2) positively stabilizing fishers' catches and revenues over time.…”

“…The limited portfolio could be rather a consequence of fish market dynamics in the region and local consumers' preferences. Historically, the Mediterranean Sea has been characterized by market demands for locally appreciated species, reflecting consumers' (either in restaurants or households) demand for high‐quality sea‐food products (Lloret et al, 2018; Penca et al, 2021). Some of these gastronomically important species (e.g., scorpionfishes, lobsters and sea breams) can be supplied mainly by SSFs, that take advantage of the low fluctuation in the prices of these resources and use their traditional knowledge to harvest sufficient quantities, in order to guarantee stable and acceptable revenues throughout the year (Penca et al, 2021).…”