The African Great Lakes (AGL) are among the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems, supporting fisheries that employ over 5 million people. Women represent the majority of traders and processors of fish. Small fish species, particularly in dried form, dominate the market supply. Known as Dagaa, these small fish species constitute 75% of the catches from nearly all African lakes. Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria are leading inland fish-producing lakes, contributing over 60% to the catches from both lakes, primarily involving Dagaa. Consequently, Dagaa are the second-most important species traded and consumed locally, regionally, and globally.
This photo essay maps out the value chain of the AGL small pelagic fish (Dagaa) from Lake Tanganyika (fished from Tanzania and DR Congo) and Lake Victoria (fished mainly from Uganda and Kenya). It traces the journey from the lakes in Africa to the plates in Canada, where they are primarily consumed by African diaspora communities. Additionally, this essay highlights the socioeconomic value and environmental impact of the transcontinental, women-led dried fish markets on people’s livelihoods and the sustainability of fisheries.
In May 2024, Wae Win Khaing, a PhD candidate from Myanmar, participated in the 2024 Myanmar Emerging Scholars and Young Leaders Workshop at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from May 15 to 17, 2024. This workshop aimed to empower emerging leaders from Myanmar through sessions on theory-to-practice transformation, maximizing policy impact, and best practices for civil society organizations.
The workshop brought together around 25 participants from various backgrounds. Key features included an interactive communication workshop and a visit to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC). Participants presented their research and received feedback from experienced professionals. The event was funded by the International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative.
Participants of the 2024 Myanmar Emerging Scholars and Young Leaders Workshop with organizers and resource persons
Following the workshop, on May 22, 2024, Wae Win presented her research at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria. She was joined by Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a research affiliate at the University of Sydney. Their joint presentation, titled “Living in Limbo: How Policy and Politics Shape the Lives of Myanmar Migrants in Thailand,” was moderated by Dr. Jessica Ball, Professor Emerita at the University of Victoria and Principal Director of Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships.
The presentation examined the impact of political and policy environments on the lives of Myanmar migrants in Thailand. Through qualitative research and interviews, Wae Win Khaing and Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe highlighted challenges such as legal uncertainties, socio-economic barriers, and the effects of regional policies on migrant integration.
University of Victoria in-person and online presentation session with moderator Dr. Jessica Ball
The event was initiated by Dr. Kenneth MacKay from Von Environmental Consulting and organized by the Centre for Global Studies and the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria, with support from the Canadian International Council, Victoria Branch. Attendees with connections to Myanmar explored opportunities to address issues related to Myanmar migrants and the broader context of Myanmar.
Through her presentation at the University of Victoria, she had the opportunity to share her research design and preliminary findings and receive feedback from multidisciplinary experts to support the lives of Myanmar migrants involved in dried fish value chains and fisheries in Thailand. Wae Win Khaing’s current doctoral ethnographic research titled “A quest for wellbeing: An ethnography of migration, gender, and social wellbeing of Myanmar migrants in dried fish value chains in Thailand” focuses on understanding the relationship between historical changes in Myanmar and Thailand and Myanmar migration since 1980 and how migration affects people’s involvement in dried fish value chains from a gender-oriented social wellbeing perspective.
A recent study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis underscores the significant nutritional potential of dried small fish species from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. The research, titled “Nutrient Composition of Dried Marine Small Fish in Bangladesh and Their Potential to Address Hidden Hunger,” focuses on seven local fish species: chapila, chewa, faissa, ichre, loittya, mola, and olua. The study reveals that consuming just 10 grams of dried fish powder from these species can meet 100% of the recommended nutrient intake for protein, calcium, selenium, and vitamin B12 for children aged 6–23 months, and serves as an important nutrient source for pregnant or lactating women.
Previous studies in Bangladesh have shown that small fish like mola can enhance iron and vitamin A status among children. However, the presence of bones in traditionally cooked small fish poses a challenge for young children. To address this, the study highlights the potential of using fish powder as a solution. Incorporating fish and fish-based products such as smashed fish, powdered fish, and chutney into children’s diets can effectively address micronutrient deficiencies.
Fish drying in Nazirartek, Bangladesh (Photo source – Derek Johnson)
At Dried Fish Matters, we are dedicated to raising awareness about the nutritional benefits of dried fish. This study adds significant value to our advocacy efforts, providing important evidence to support policies and programs that promote the safe and sustainable consumption of dried fish to address nutritional security challenges. For more details, you can access the full study here.
Fresh and dried marine fish are deeply ingrained in the culture and traditions of Kerala, a coastal state in southern India. The state’s proximity to the Arabian Sea, along with its backwaters and numerous rivers, has historically provided abundant access to various fish. This working paper examines the importance of dried fish within the non-vegetarian food basket of households in Kerala, focusing on preferences and consumption patterns among different geographical regions. It also explores the social and economic significance of dried fish, its health benefits, and the factors influencing its consumption. It highlights the role of dried fish in Kerala’s culinary traditions and its prominence in the local diet, providing insights into the extent of fish consumption and its cultural relevance in the state.
In April 2024, Colleen Cranmer, one of our dedicated researchers and a PhD candidate at the School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, attended the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Transdisciplinarity for Transformative Change (SPSAS). This intensive training workshop brought together 80 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from 31 countries to the charming town of São Luiz de Paraitinga in southeastern Brazil.
Here is what Colleen had to say about her experience:
“In April of this year, I had the privilege of attending the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Transdisciplinarity for Transformative Change (SPSAS).
We spent two weeks engaging in classes led by scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and indigenous leaders, alongside field trips to research institutions and traditional communities. We also participated in hands-on mentored activities in which we worked in groups to co-design research proposals using the principles of transformative and transdisciplinary change. What made this workshop truly unique was the cultural engagement with the small town we were based in. São Luiz de Paraitinga is a small town located in the State of São Paulo. The rich history of the town can be felt as you walk through the cobblestone streets and take in the beautiful architecture. In the evenings, SPSAS organized a variety of cultural activities put on by the local community such as capoeira, maracatu, Brazilian classical singing, Orquestra de Violas, and a movie screening of ‘The Territory’.
Field visit to learn about agroforestry (Photo credit: Colleen Cranmer)
For our group work, we were divided into small groups with those conducting similar research. I was initially surprised I was placed in the ‘economic’ group. Given my focus on dried fish research, I had expected to join the fisheries group. I quickly realized that this was an excellent opportunity to experience transdisciplinarity in practice. Since my work extends to value chain and economic livelihood production, this was a chance to shift my fisheries focus, to learn how other natural resource value chains are experiencing and adapting to issues. Although our group shared many similarities in the value chains we study (overexploitation, environmental change, marginalized actors), we sometimes struggled to reach a consensus on framing our proposal. Nevertheless, we saw in all our cases the potential for transformative change by co-creating with communities ideas of futures where alternatives to market-based livelihoods are explored and questioning the need for commodification and upscaling products.
I have taken away a lot from my time at the workshop. The transdisciplinary nature of the work group has been challenging and motivating, it makes me excited for future collaborations in my field once I complete my PhD. The transformative change aspect has given me so much to think about within my own research and how I want to move forward as a researcher. Lastly, the connections I made with the organizing team and participants were really special, with so many diverse backgrounds and experiences, it was incredible to be brought together to form an insightful and caring community of people all working towards similar goals.”
Colleen’s experiences at SPSAS highlight the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and cultural engagement in driving transformative change. Her reflections provide a valuable perspective on how such experiences can shape and enhance one’s research approach and professional journey. We are proud of Colleen’s participation and look forward to seeing how these insights will influence her work within the Dried Fish Matters project and beyond.
DFM co-applicant, Dr. Emdad Haque, is lead editor of a new book titled “RED ALERT! Non-Communicable Diseases, Dietary Habits and Lifestyle in Bangladesh”. The book offers a profound exploration into Bangladesh’s shifting health dynamics through the lens of the epidemiological transition. This publication stands as a testament to the interdisciplinary approach needed to tackle complex health challenges.
Drawing from nationwide empirical surveys, the book links non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to dietary patterns, physical activity levels, and lifestyle factors across urban, semi-urban, and rural populations. Among the key findings are the alarming rise in hypertension and diabetes prevalence, outpacing neighbouring countries, and the striking correlation between urbanization and NCD prevalence. Noteworthy is the disparity in NCD burden between rural and urban populations, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions.
One of the noteworthy contributions to the book comes from the Dried Fish Matters (DFM) funded PhD student Sami Naim Farook, whose chapters in the book provide insightful examinations of the health status of the Indigenous Garo people in Dhaka, revealing lower diabetes rates but increasing hypertension, tobacco, alcohol consumption, and obesity among Garo women. In chapter eight of the book, Farook and colleagues highlight the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-aged children, particularly in urban areas like Dhaka, reflecting sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits. In chapter eleven, Farook and his co-authors examine the health impacts of shifting dietary patterns, such as a decline in grain consumption and the rise in meat consumption, and recommend holistic approaches to address the emerging challenges of non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.
Reference:
Haque, C. E., Ahsan, G. U., & Islam, M. A. (Eds.). (2024). RED ALERT! Non-Communicable Diseases, Dietary Habits and Lifestyle in Bangladesh (First). The University Press Limited.
The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)’s journal Yemaya recently published a summary of highlights of DFM’s participation in the 8th Global Conference on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries (GAF-8) in Kochi, India, in November 2022. The article, co-authored by Derek Johnson, Nikita Gopal, Kyoko Kusakabe, Tara Nair, and Mirza Taslima Sultana and titled “The Gendered Economy of Dried Fish”, underscores the often-overlooked contributions of women in Asia’s dried fish economy.
The three DFM panels began with two presentations that summarized theoretical approaches to gender taken within the project. The remaining 13 presentations focused on different empirical cases of gender in social economies of dried fish from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Discussions at GAF-8 underscored the pivotal role of gender and feminist perspectives in understanding the Asian dried fish economy. By applying feminist theory, the DFM project aims to tease apart the intricate webs of gendered labor, power dynamics, and structural inequalities shaping dried fish production and trade. It seeks to amplify the voices of women, whose contributions often go unrecognized.
The article points to the complexities of dried fish value chains from a gender perspective, highlighting the significant roles women play. The gendered nature of the dried fish economy extends beyond production to consumption, with gendered inequality present across the value chain. Despite their indispensable contributions, women often face barriers such as limited access to space, resources, and decision-making processes. These structural conditions perpetuate gender inequalities within the sector and must be a priority consideration for interventions to empower women and other marginalized participants in social economies of dried fish.
The 12th Biennial Conference of the Indian Society for Ecological Economics (INSEE) recently concluded at BML Munjal University, Haryana. Among the standout contributions was made by the Dried Fish Matters India team, whose participation in the conference illuminated the nuanced landscape of the dried fish sector in the country. In a panel discussion titled “Blue Fears and Blue Hopes: The Social Economy of Dried Fish in India,” the team presented findings from diverse regions – Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Dr. Nikita Gopal, representing Kerala, highlighted the impacts of natural and human factors on dried fish processors, showcasing their resilience amidst challenges. Dr. Tara Nair of the Gujarat team discussed Gujarat’s unusual situation of being a top marine fish producer in a predominantly vegetarian state. The discussion emphasized the need for inclusive fisheries policies to support small-scale dried fish processors vulnerable to exploitation by more powerful economic actors.
Maharashtra’s challenges, including infrastructure developments and encroachment, were explored by Abhilasha Sharma. Increased online retailing in Maharashtra points to evolving opportunities for dried fish processors. Meanwhile, Prasanna Surathkal shed light on the impact of infrastructure and tourism projects on Karnataka’s coast, underscoring both challenges and positive strides, such as the establishment of a collective producer enterprise. The Dried Fish Matters India team’s brief but impactful presence at the INSEE Conference reflects a commitment to understanding the intricacies of the dried fish sector and advocating for its sustainable growth. Their contributions contribute to opportunities for collaboration to inform policy, governance, and development in this vital industry.
