Access to Low Priced Small Fish for Livelihood Support a Case Study on Omena (Silver Cyprinid) Trade for Local and Domestic Consumption in Kenya
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Access to low priced small fish for livelihood support A case study on omena (silver cyprinid) trade for local and domestic consumption in Kenya Author: Lola van der Voort, 10539557 Supervisor: Prof. J.M. Bavinck Second reader: Dr. J. Scholtens University of Amsterdam Department of Human Geography Master’s Thesis August 30th 2019 Table of Contents 1. Introduction: Small forage fish as food and means of livelihood 5 2. Literature review 8 2.1 Systemic approach to food supply: Social-ecological systems and small- fish supply chains 8 2.1.1 Social-ecologic systems 8 2.1.2 Domestic seafood supply chains 10 2.2 Actor approach: Accessibility and adaptability 11 2.2.1 Local accessibility in a liberalized economy 11 2.2.2 Adaptive capacity 13 2.3 Hypothesis: Involution 13 2.4 Theoretic figure 15 2.5 Gap in knowledge & Research questions 16 3. Methodology 18 3.1 Research design, methods, instruments and supervision 18 3.2 Data sources and sampling 18 3.3 Data gathering procedure 19 3.4 Study area and research sites 21 3.5 Data analysis 25 3.8 Ethics 25 3.9 Limitations 26 4. Context: The social-ecological system of Lake Victoria, Kenya 28 4.1 Species invasion, eutrophication and climate change 28 4.2 Demographics and employment 30 4.2 Lake Victoria Fisheries 32 4.4 Fisheries governance in Kenya 32 5. Results 34 5.1 Systemic approach: The omena supply chain for local and domestic consumption 34 5.1.1 Environment and stocks 34 5.1.2 Harvesting patterns 35 5.1.3 Processing 37 5.1.4 Wholesale, retail and distribution 38 2 5.1.5 Consumption 42 5.1.6 The fishmeal industry 42 5.2 Actor approach 43 5.2.1 The social-economic and cultural position of the omena trader 43 5.2.2 Accessibility 46 5.2.3 Adaptability 50 5.4 Involution 52 7. Conclusion 54 8. References 59 Annex 1: List of fieldwork locations 68 Annex 2: Annex 2: List of in-depth interview respondents 69 Annex 3: List of survey respondents 70 Annex 4: Semi-structured survey 73 3 Acronyms BMU Beach Management Unit DHC Direct Human Consumption FAO Food and Agricultural Organization FMFO Fishmeal and fish oil GIS Geographical Information System LVEMP Lake Victoria Environmental Management Program LVFO Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization KMFRI Kenyan Marine Fisheries Research Institute SES Social-ecological system The image on the front-page is a painting made by Aron Vellekoop Leon. It is called “Stuck” and in the context of this research it illustrates the competition between omena traders and the lack of flexibility of the lower scale traders in comparison to larger scale newcomers. “Stuck” was used with permission of the artist and can be retrieved from: https://aronvl.com. 4 1. Introduction: Small forage fish as food and means of livelihood In its recent fisheries and aquaculture report, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) pronounced that small pelagic fresh water fish have the potential to boost Africa’s food security and people’s livelihoods. Small pelagic fish or ‘forage fish’ are small schooling species that feed on plankton and are eaten themselves by larger predators. By converting energy from lower trophic levels into food for larger fish, marine mammals and seabirds, they occupy a vital place in marine food webs (Isaacs, 2016; Cashion et al, 2017). Schools of forage fish form concentrated energy resources and migrate along shores and across oceans followed by other marine species. Besides oceans they also inhabit freshwater habitats. However, like plankton, the quantities of forage fish are variable and highly depend on climate conditions (Tacon & Metian, 2009). Therefore, scientists are concerned about the effects of climate change and marine degradation on these species. Furthermore, overfishing threats the survival of larger marine species as the availability of forage fish declines. Fish and other aquatic foods also play an important role in human nutrition. According to BeEneE et al. (2015) and Kawarazuka & BeEneE (2011) small forage fish species contain many essential micronutrients, minerals, and are high in protein. They are high in vitamin A, iron and zinc. At present more than two billion people worldwide, in particular in developing countries, are estimated to be deficient in these essential vitamins and minerals. Various authors therefore argue that forage fish could play an important role in battling malnutrition (Tacon & Metian, 2009; Kawarazuka & BeEneE, 2011; Cashion et al., 2017). Traditionally, small pelagic fish have been a key source of food for low-income consumers across the world, especially in coastal regions (Alder, et al. 2008). Besides their nutritional value, small fish offer other advantages for these consumers. Because of their size and schooling behaviour they are generally easily accessible and affordable. They can be purchased in small quantities and they can be more evenly divided among household members. Furthermore they can be processed and stored for a long period of time to meet seasonal shortages (Maljuf et al., 2017, Kawarazuka & BeEneE, 2011). In addition, the trade of fish plays an indirect but essential role in achieving food security through livelihood support (BeEneE et al., 2015; FAO, 2018: 52). Fish and small scale fisheries have important social and economic benefits in developing countries where the sector generates employment and income for many people (Maljuf et al., 2017). Kawarazuka & BeEneE (2011) estimate that 95% of people in developing countries directly or indirectly depend on small scale fishing, aqua-culture or trade for their livelihood. This is especially the case in lower income countries where many small-scale operators are engaged in fishing, processing or trade related activities (BeEneE et al., 2010). Altogether it is estimated that between 660 and 820 million 5 people worldwide depend on fish-related activities in sustaining their livelihoods (BeEneE et al. 2015; Allison et al, 2013). This embodies more than 10 % of the world population. Although the revenues for most people are not that high, it is often their main source of income, which allows them to access food (Heck et al. 2007; BeEneE et al. 2011; FAO, 2018: 52). Furthermore, trade connects producers with (distant) markets and consumers and is therefore an essential link in the global food security debate (FAO, 2018: 52). While there is a widely held perception that captured fish is moving directly to the tables of consumers, 27 % of global marine fisheries landings between 1950 and 2010 (around 20 million tons annually) were in reality destined for other uses (Cashion et al., 2017). An estimated 18 million tons of fish are annually used for reduction into fishmeal (Cashion et al., 2017). This is a commercial product generally used as fodder for farmed fish or poultry/livestock. While it is partly made from the bones and offal leftovers from processed fish used for human consumption, the biggest percentage is manufactured from wild-caught, small forage fish (Jacobs, 2017; Tacon & Metian, 2009). Because the moisture and oil of fish needs to be extracted in order to create fishmeal, the production of fish oil goes hand in hand with the fishmeal production. Moreover, the increasing global population and expanding middle classes, particularly in Asia, are consuming more and more fish. In our global economy fish is increasingly sourced in the waters of developing countries where labour is cheaper (Crona et al, 2016; Maljuf et al., 2017; Tacon & Metian, 2009; Cashion et al, 2017). As a result, small nutritious fish – either whole or processed as FMFO – have been increasingly transferred from developing countries to western markets. Developed countries imported 80% of total traded fish in 2006 and were also the highest consumers of seafood at an average of 23 kg per person a year (Tacon & Metian, 2009). In contrast, the lowest consumers on a per capita basis were the countries in Sub- Saharan Africa at 6.94 kg a year. Here the probability of death for children under the age of 5 (mostly linked to malnutrition) is at the global highest too, varying on average between 100 to 300 per 1000 children (Tacon & Metian, 2009). From a food-security perspective the growing production of FMFO and small fish export from developing countries therefore raises questions. This research focuses specifically on the small pelagic silver cyprinid. It is a zoo- planktivorous, small sardine-like schooling fish (Latin name: Rastrineobola argentea) that is found all over Lake Victoria. In Swahili it is called Dagaa and in Luo language omena. Because the latter is the term widely used around the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria – the area where the fieldwork of this research took place – it will mostly be referred in this thesis as omena (image 2). The fish is cheap, nutritious and usually sold sun-dried, either for human consumption or for reduction into fishmeal. Its nutritional value is high as the whole fish is being eaten and therefore provides more micro elements and vitamins than fish flesh only. (Legros & Luomba, 6 2011). Omena is therefore considered to be an important source of protein for many local low- and medium-income fish consumers around Lake Victoria (Medard, 2015). Moreover, it plays an important role in people’s livelihoods through trade. In Kenya alone, about 850,000 people, especially from lower classes, directly depend on the fishery of omena. And because of its lower market value, it is currently the most dominant fisheries resource sold to end consumers in local fish markets (Kronen et al., 2015). As omena offers livelihood support to many people in Kenya, this thesis focuses on the position of traders in the domestic supply chain. It examines small-scale fish trade, both in terms of how it links to resource use and consumption, and as a livelihood, by means of a case study of markets in Kenya.