A preliminary assessment of the post-harvest fish losses along selected fish supply chains in Kwale County, Kenya

Abstract

Artisanal marine fisheries play a critical role in enhancing food security and supporting the livelihoods of Coastal communities in Kenya. The sustainable exploitation of this resource is however threatened by post-harvest fish losses (PHFLs) occurring along the entire fish value chain. We conducted an assessment of the PHFLs at five landing sites in Kwale County to investigate the status of these losses along selected fish supply chains in the County. The Informal Fish Loss Assessment Method (IFLAM) and Questionnaire Loss Assessment Method (QLAM) were used to collect data from key informants and value chain actors operating at the landing sites. Sixty-five percent of the respondents reported having experienced PHFLs with the highest scale of loss at 34% and 15% being reported in Mkunguni and Jimbo landing sites, respectively. The fishing and marketing nodes of the fish value chains represented points at which the highest losses were encountered at 28% and 17%, respectively. The inadequacy of preservation infrastructure at the landing sites and the lack of preservation during fishing were the main factors contributing to the PHFLs. Provision of cold chain facilities, adequate drying racks and capacity building on fish handling are recommended as priority interventions to reduce the PHFLs.