Small-scale fisheries value chains, post-harvest and trade discussed in the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade

At the seventeenth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT), an agenda item on small-scale fisheries value chains, post-harvest operations and trade was considered for the first time.

© FAO

During the meeting, FAO requested guidance from COFI:FT on priority activities to undertake in line with the implementation of the SSF Guidelines and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.b.

FAO Fishery Officer Joe Zelasney attended the meeting and presented a session paper detailing key issues and challenges faced by small-scale fishers and fish workers in securing market access and bring about benefits to support sustainable livelihoods.

Fish and fishery products are among the world's most traded food items in terms of value. Small-scale fisheries actors engage in many different markets, from informal local to high-value export markets. The challenges they face regarding market access include insufficient market information, knowledge and capacity constraints of individuals and organizations, high incidences of post-harvest losses and a lack of access to financial services.

Read more here about the seventeenth session of COFI:FT.

Learn more here about recommendations in the SSF Guidelines on value chains, post-harvest and trade.