Abstract: This illustrated book documents the diversity, processing methods, and socio-economic importance of dried fish in Bangladesh. Drawing on field-based research under the “Dried Fish Matters” project, the book presents a systematic overview of major freshwater and marine species used in traditional drying practices, including barbs, eels, catfishes, snakeheads, tilapia, prawns, and others. For each species, information is provided on taxonomy, local nomenclature, size range, harvesting season, handling, salting, sun-drying techniques, and market demand. Overall, the book serves as both a scientific reference and a visual documentation of Bangladesh’s dried fish sector, emphasizing its importance for food security, rural economies, and sustainable fisheries management.
Abstract: Processing harvested marine fish into dried fish has been an age-old practice and by far the most common method of preserving fish on the Karnataka coast. Performed mostly by women of fisher communities in small-scale operations, dried fish processing and marketing are important traditional livelihood options on the coast. However, in the drive for modernizing the seafood sector, the dried fish segment has long gone out of favor among policymakers as well as academics despite possessing several advantages for both producers and consumers of dried fish. In this regard, this report sets out the goal of providing a detailed description of the dried fish processing segment in the Karnataka coast so as to gain a better appreciation for the role of the dried fish value chain in the regional economy. This report is a product of the only detailed study of dried fish production in Karnataka State. The studycollected primary data from dried fish processors in the three coastal districts of the state through structured interviews. A total of 271 processors were interviewed from around the nine major fishing harbors of the state. The respondents were interviewed thrice coinciding with the three major seasons in Karnataka marine fisheries, i.e., the monsoon season, post-monsoon season, and the pre-monsoon season. Through this approach, the study analyzes not only the seasonal patterns in dried fish production in the state, but also the relative size of dried fish production across the geographical markets and the major species used for processing. There were many questions that were repeated in every round of the survey, while some unique questions were included in each round to capture unique aspects of the value chain, for example impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A key contribution of this study is its detailed socioeconomic and demographic profile of dried fish processors. The study also explains the operation of their dried fish businesses, and their perceptions of some of the major issues facing the dried fish segment of Karnataka’s seafood value chain. The findings demonstrate the predominant role played by women in dried fish value chains, supported by the fact that about 95 percent of the respondents were women. The study suggests seasonal patterns in dried fish processing such that largest procurements of fresh fish for dried fish operations occurred in the post-monsoon period, followed by the monsoon period, with the lowest procurements taking place in the pre-monsoon period. Mangaluru is the largest production market in terms of volume of fresh fish procured for dried fish operations. In terms of fish species, anchovies and mackerel are the two most procured fish in these production markets. The study examined the capital costs, working capital, losses during production and marketing, and the marketing channels for dried fish used by the processors. Results indicate the importance of dried fish not only as a livelihood option for coastal fisher communities, but also as a source of nutrition-dense food for the regional food systems of the state. Based on its findings, the report makes recommendations for policymakers and academicians that can help improve the dried fish processing segment of the state’s seafood value chain. The dried fish processing segment has been neglected for far too long despite holding tremendous potential to create livelihoods, improve nutritional security, and enhance fisheries sustainability.
Abstract: The African Great Lakes (AGL) are amongst the most important freshwater ecosystems globally, with fisheries that employ over 5 million people, of which 3 million people are involved in small-scale fisheries (WorldFish, 2021), with women representing 44%, of whom 88% are fish processors and traders (FAO in WoldFish, 2021). Small fish species, in dried form, dominate fish supplies in markets. This photo essay maps out the value chain of the African Great Lakes (AGL) small pelagic fish of Lake Tanganyika (fished from Tanzania and DR Congo) and Lake Victoria (fished mainly from Uganda and Kenya). It shows the context of socioeconomic value and environmental impact that the transcontinental women-led dried fish markets have on people’s livelihoods and fisheries’ sustainability. AGL small species, named Dagaa, make up 75% of catches from nearly all African lakes. Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria are leading fish-producing inland lakes, mainly where Dagaa are fished and processed, with contributions of over 60% to the catches of both lakes. Thus, the second-most important species traded and consumed locally and across the region and the world. Photos are organized in categories of identified segments of the Dagaa value chain, mapping the export/import women-led dried fish business networks between the AGL region and Canada. Using the Structure-Conduct-Performance model and Political Ecology thinking, the essay highlights that AGL Dagaa fisheries use small-scale assets. While men handle fishing and distribution, women dominate processing and trading at landing sites. Imported Dagaa in Canada primarily serves the African diaspora, with high prices reflecting its cultural value. The essay underscores the need for research and policies for markets balancing exported and Canadian small fish to reduce pressure on AGL fisheries and create economic opportunities in Canada.
Abstract: Dried fish accounts for one-quarter to one-third of all fish consumed in South and Southeast Asia. Often produced simply by placing fish on the ground to dry in the sun, fish may also be processed through a combination of several other preservation technologies – salting, fermenting, brining, smoking, and pickling – using racks, ovens, clay pots, or other equipment. This book explores dried fish in the broadest possible sense, as encompassing any fish product that is neither fresh nor frozen. The main feature of these products is their portability: without the need for a cold chain, the food becomes less expensive to store and transport, and therefore more accessible to consumers in remote or less affluent places. The present volume is an outcome of the Dried Fish Matters Partnership, a research initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Including more than 20 member organizations, this partnership is driven by researchers and students located in Canada, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. The overall goal of Dried Fish Matters has been to study the contribution of dried fish to the food and nutrition security and livelihoods of the poor, and to examine how production, exchange and consumption of dried fish may be improved to enhance the well-being of marginalized groups and actors in the dried fish economy.
Abstract: This report provides a detailed description of the dried fish segment of the seafood value chain of Karnataka. The state’s dried fish segment is analyzed from two perspectives: the vertical flow of dried fish products, i.e., from producers/processors to consumers; and, the horizontal flow, i.e., from the coastal markets to hinterland consumption centers. Market analysis shows that the Mangaluru wholesale dried fish market can be described as the pivotal market for dried fish in the state. Though there is inter-regional trade of dried fish taking place in other production centers as well, the scale and scope of Mangaluru make it a pivotal market. Dried fish producers are present in substantial numbers in all the sampled fish landing centers on the coast, though their number appears to have declined strongly over time. The study made only a limited attempt to understand the consumption aspects of dried fish products in the state, but with limited evidence it could be hypothesized that dried fish forms an important part of diet especially among the weaker sections of the society, but maybe it is preferred less by the younger generations/cohort. The report discusses the major challenges facing dried fish production in Karnataka, and offers some suggestions for reviving this critical component of the small-scale fisheries of the state.
Abstract: The dried fish sector has made a strong position in the economy of Bangladesh as it has its appearance both on international and local markets. The large-scale fish drying and fermentation activities are concentrated in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet-Mymensingh-Comilla and Khulna-Barisal-Patuakhali region. Dublar Char in Sundarban, Khulna, and Nazirar Tek and Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar are the major and largest marine fish drying facilities of the country. Freshwater fish are mainly dried in Sylhet-Mymensingh-Comilla region. In the Chalan Beel area at the north central Bangladesh, in Faridpur and Kaptai Lake, smaller quantity of freshwater fishes is dried as well.
Abstract: The history of dried fish with its significance in the Bengal area starts from the medieval era. Dried fish got to India via the port cities such as Bombay, Visakhapatnam and Chennai by the inter-state and intra-state trades with the rail ways in the mid-19th century. Popularly known as ‘Shutki’, dried fish is emblematic to the cultural oneness of (dis)integrated Bengal wherein Bengalis either relished dried fish with uncompromising endearment or rejected it because of the repugnant odor of a decaying fish. The scoping research focused on two coastal districts of West Bengal; South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur.
Abstract: The District Fishermen Youth Welfare Association (DFYWA) is a community-based non-governmental organisation working with the small-scale fishers and fishworkers of northern Andhra Pradesh since 1992, implementing activities focused on developing sustainable fisheries-based livelihoods for men and women. This working paper is the first in the proposed series, focusing upon the fisherwomen involved in dried fish trade covering the four northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The working paper also takes a sideways glance at the potential impacts of the industrial fishmeal production on the small-scale processed fish production in the target communities. It is the intention of DFYWA to treat the working paper as a live document, to allow updating it at regular intervals, add more quantitative data as it is collected, and also use this as a baseline to understand and interpret future development directions in the subsector, both from within the communities and outside of them. The study, based mostly on primary data collection, is undertaken by several members and staff of DFYWA.
Abstract: The social economy of dried fish in Sri Lanka, an island located at the crossroads of maritime trade between Europe,East Africa, South and Southeast Asia, has a long history. Dried fish has not only been an important commodity traded within the island and among neighbouring countries, but it has also played a significant nutritional and cultural role in the Sri Lankan diet. Although a greater proportion of the total fish production is iced, traded, and consumed as fresh fish, it is estimated that 14 percent of the catch is preserved using simple techniques such as sun drying, salting, smoking, and fermentation, collectively referred to as “dried fish.” In Sri Lankan cuisine, dried fish is consumed as a main dish, as well as a condiment to enhance the flavour of vegetable dishes and rice.
Abstract: The literature reviewed in this report clearly identifies the role of processed fish in Cambodia as an important livelihood option, especially for the poorer segments of the population and women; as an important contributor to food security and nutrition; and as a cultural preference. This body of work is fragmented, however, as it does not focus specifically on the processed fish sector. Research that is directly about fish processing in Cambodia is marked by a focus on technical analysis, including the chemical composition of processed fish and the methods followed in processing fish paste and fermented fish. Some studies that analyze the fisheries sector more generally have included discussions of the processed fish sector, addressing a variety of themes – socio-economic conditions; culture; ecology and environment; nutrition; food security and food safety; and policy and governance.
Abstract: Dried fish has long been an important source of protein in Kerala, especially for fishing communities during lean season. It has also had a niche market among fish eaters residing away from the sea coast. Dried fish has been traditionally produced by fishing communities, when the excess catch is dried by the women of the households and stored for use later or marketed during times when fresh catches were unavailable for sale. This report communicates the findings of scoping field research carried out from 27th January to 1st February 2020 in Ernakulam district of Kerala and in Aroor, Alappuzha district (Aroor borders Ernakulam district). Due to COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions from about mid- March in the state, the follow up information was mostly gathered by communicating with stakeholders over several phone calls. The sites visited included a range of dried fish production units and sellers with respect to scale, technology and innovation are concerned. They included traditional dried fish producers and production yards (small scale, home based and large scale), traditional producers willing to look for better drying technologies, innovative dried fish producers and dried fish traders selling in traditional and modern conditions. There are a number of organizational variations, which also are “gendered” in terms of how women and men are involved therein. Interactions were carried out with several traders across the markets to get an idea of the different modes of operation different traders employ. A couple of enterprises using modern driers for drying fish as well as several sites where fish is dried using traditional sun-based methods.
Abstract: Identification of Key Zones was done with the assistance of Assistant Directors (ADs) of Fisheries, who are the representatives of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development for each of the fifteen Fisheries districts of Sri Lanka. This report compiles responses from a structured questionnaire, which included questions on the following: Major fish production areas; Major dried fish producing sites; Volume of Production of dry fish by type; Number of households involved in dried fish production; Distribution of employment in dried fish production (disaggregated by gender and work category); Fish marketing channels and the type and number of traders serving each location; Location and number of wholesale centers; Type and number of state and non-state institutions (civil society organisations, community organisations, women’s organisations) engaged in the sector; Key issues faced by the dried fish producers of the district; Changes over the last 10 years, in respect of volumes of production, locations, technology, marketing, etc.
Abstract:
Dried fish is an important component of the diet and fisheries economy of many communities in India. The long-term survival of this industry is at risk, threatening the food security and livelihoods of those dependent on it. The fishmeal industry is one potential threat, where large volumes of low-value fish are processed on a large scale to produce feed for poultry and aqua-culture. This pilot study, conducted jointly by Dakshin Foundation and the Dried Fish Matters (DFM) project, assessed the structure, supply chain and trends of the dried fish economy at Malvan, Maharashtra and its possible links with the fishmeal industry. The dried fish industry in Malvan is relatively small, with about 20-25 local traders and 8-10 traders who do not belong to the local communities – all of whom carry out the fish processing and drying themselves. These traders buy and process large volumes of fish, which is sold outside Malvan but within the region (i.e. Sindhudurg district and Goa). A separate chain exists where small-scale traders, largely women, buy fish from boats and sell it at the local market, both fresh and dried. A large diversity of fish is used for drying, the most common being mackerels, croakers and ribbonfish, with traders and retailers showing no preference for any.
Fish catch in Malvan has significantly declined in the past decade, reducing the dried fish trade as well. Overfishing and prevalence of fishing practices such as LED fishing and high-speed trawling were cited as the main reasons for this decline. Dried fish trade is possibly further diminished by the development of the fishmeal industry. We found that fish for drying may be increasingly diverted to fishmeal, as the latter is less labour-intensive and generates steady profits. The future of fish drying therefore appears to be under threat, largely due to a low and unsteady supply of fish and potentially due to industries like fishmeal as well. Further research into the dried fish economy and its connection to fishmeal is needed.
Abstract: 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 report 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. This report 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.
Abstract: The Myanmar Dried Fish Consumption Survey (MDFCS) was implemented by Network Actions Group, as part of the Dried Fish Matters (DFM) project. This study was confined to the 8 states and regions in Myanmar where NAG offices are located. Data collection was taken between October 2019 and March 2020. The participants in this study were rural people who are living under the scope of NAG project villages. This study mainly focuses on fish (fresh and processed) consumption in the 7 days before the survey and per capita consumption per day, including the source of the consumed fish, location of purchase, method of consumption, and details of the consumed fish species.
Abstract: This paper is the first among the series of analytical write-ups that we plan to bring out as part of the Gujarat regional component of the Dried Fish Matters research project. In this paper we review some of the major policies and institutional arrangements that are critical for understanding the social economy of fisheries, especially marine fisheries, in the state. The paper is divided into two sections. In section one, we present a brief overview of the trajectory of the evolution of fisheries sector policies at the national level since they broadly define the context of our discussion. In section two, we will elaborate on the Gujarat case. Our focus here will be to interrogate the broader philosophy that guides Gujarat’s approach to fisheries development in recent years.
Abstract: This document compiles relevant passages from policy statements, regulations, agreements, and conventions that concern fish processing and the status of women in Sri Lanka, arranged by type of instrument and the various articles under each instrument.
