1
Commonwealth Africa Fisheries Profile
Africa’s marine fisheries produce 6.7 million tonnes of seafood annually and employ 5,210,000 people, while their inland fisheries produce 3.0 million tonnes of fisheries products.
2
“While Africa’s fisheries industry presents many opportunities for digitalisation, it is largely structured around informal business arrangements and as such has considerably untapped potential.”
Digitalisation in African fisheries
The state of digital fisheries in the region is assessed using the digital fisheries framework described under the methodology section.
It consists of (I) digital innovations, (II) data infrastructure, (III) business development services, and (IV) the enabling environment for the digitalisation of fisheries.
While Africa’s fisheries industry presents many opportunities for digitalisation, it is largely structured around informal business arrangements and as such has considerably untapped potential. Challenges associated with digitalisation within the fisheries sector in Africa include logistical inefficiencies, lack of proper product storage, illiteracy and a lack of technological skills related to fisheries enterprise. As a result, the leverage of digitalisation into Africa’s fisheries sector is currently low.
Pillar i
Digital Innovations
The core technologies being used within the fishing industry are mostly web-based and are basic overall.
In theory, these technologies are readily available online, but illiteracy excludes many from using the web platforms that do exist. There have, however, been some uses of more advanced technology within Africa’s fisheries sector.
“The digital solution that has been most widely adopted by the fisheries sector in Africa is digital payment systems.”
Pillar ii
Data Infrastructure
Data infrastructure refers to a set of fundamental facilities, the basic structure of a system that is needed to enable multiple sources of data to be sourced, combined, processed, analysed, protected and made accessible for exchange and use.
Routine data collection on fisheries catches is limited in many African countries and even less for the socio-economic aspects of fisheries.
“Routine data collection on fisheries catches is limited in many African countries and even less for the socio-economic aspects of fisheries.”
Case
ABALOBI Case Study
ABALOBI, a South African–based social enterprise, aims to contribute towards thriving, equitable and sustainable SSF.
The ABALOBI FISHER App provides fishers with a digital logbook, which can be downloaded on a simple smartphone, to record catches, post-harvest activities, expenses and income. It also gives fishers access to basic analytics that offer a summary of their monthly activities.
“Routine data collection on fisheries catches is limited in many African countries and even less for the socio-economic aspects of fisheries.”
Pillar iii
Business Development Services
The numerous challenges, including overfishing, over capacity, inadequate human and financial resources, poor market infrastructure and access, and weak governance and regulation, faced by fisheries in Africa limits the capability of local governments to help ensure the sector is sustainable and profitable.
In combination with a common lack of government funding destined for the fisheries sector, digitalisation efforts within the sector are often developed by private companies or NGOs.
“In combination with a common lack of government funding destined for the fisheries sector, digitalisation efforts within the sector are often developed by private companies or NGOs.”
The Base
Enabling Environment for Digitalisation
The enabling environment within Africa is not considered “conducive” for the smooth digitalisation of fisheries.
In general, there does not appear to be sufficient government prioritisation in the sector. Although fisheries growth and efforts to address IUU fisheries are common in the fisheries sector in Africa, particularly in Western Africa, government spending is not specifically directed at digitalisation but rather focused on increasing production and thus jobs, although digitalisation itself is a tool to support production and jobs.
“The enabling environment within Africa is not considered “conducive” for the smooth digitalisation of fisheries.”