Artisan fishing is a term used to describe small scale low-technology commercial or subsistence fishing practices. The term particularly applies to coastal or island ethnic groups using traditional techniques such as rod and tackle, arrows and harpoons, throw nets and drag nets, and traditional fishing boats. It does not usually cover the concept of fishing for sport, and might be used when talking about the pressures between large scale modern commercial fishing practises and traditional methods, or when aid programs are targeted specifically at fishing at or near subsistence levels.
Artisan fishing is often, but not always, less intensive and less stressful on fish populations than modern industrial fishing techniques. It is subject to difficulties in the export process due to inadequate investment in refrigeration and processing facilities. However, the most important goal of artisan fishing is domestic consumption, as it is often an important source of inexpensive and accessible protein in poor coastal areas.
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The world’s bottom billion are falling behind in the war on poverty and hunger. Traditional staple foods alone cannot feed the world while fisheries and aquaculture have the potential to provide better nutrition and improve incomes for the poor.[1]
Fisheries are a source of high-protein food: they provide over 1.5 billion people with 20 percent of their animal protein, and 3 billion people with 15 percent of their animal protein.[2] In some countries they provide up to 70% of animal protein, which is particularly important for pregnant women and young children.[3]
Catching, processing and trading fish provides a livelihood for millions of men and women, the overwhelming majority of whom are associated with small-scale fisheries. In fact, of the 70% of the world’s total fish catch that comes from developing countries, over a half of this comes from small-scale fisheries.[4]
Small scale fisheries have failed to keep pace with demand for food and employment in developing countries and urgently require attention to technology, health, economics and reform in management and governance.[5] Globally there are 38 million full-time fishers, and 20% of these fishers earn less than US$1 per day. Most wild-fish stocks are near the limit of their productive capacity or have destabilized or declined because of overfishing and other causes. Given these pressures and constraints, the capacity to maintain wild fisheries needs to increase, and aquaculture needs further development since it is the only alternative way fish production can be substantially increased.[6]
Climate change poses additional challenges affecting the seasonality and productivity of fisheries, as well as the geographical locations and viability of the supporting habitats[7] while a further global threat comes from degradation of coral reefs. Seventy-five percent of coral reefs are currently under immediate and direct threat from local sources, which include overfishing, destructive fishing, coastal development, and pollution.[8]
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