Executive Summary:

Somali fisheries offer great potential for growth to improve coastal livelihood security. The Puntland state of Somalia and the international community have prioritized coastal industries, especially fisheries, in their planned development efforts. Previous and current efforts have been predominantly concentrated in the most populated coastal cities, but there are many opportunities to create projects in underserved areas that will improve local food and economic security while delivering long-term benefits and positive returns on investment.

This report presents findings from a questionnaire survey gathered from Qandala & Lasqorey, which aimed at understanding the sustainability and resource challenges and opportunities faced by the fisheries sector. The survey collected responses from stakeholders involved in fisheries activities, providing valuable insights into the main challenges, concerns, opportunities, and capacity-building needs within the sector.

Methodology:

A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather insights from stakeholders involved in fisheries activities. The questionnaire comprised multiple-choice and open-ended questions, covering sustainability challenges, concerns about overfishing, socio-economic challenges, data availability, opportunities, market dynamics, and capacity-building needs. The survey was distributed to a diverse sample of stakeholders, including fishers, fisher managers, and community members, ensuring representation across various sectors.

Major challenges for those two locations

Infrastructure

There are significant challenges to undertaking an accurate needs assessment of these fishing locations and executing projects in any of them. road quality is often poor, indicating that attention to basic civic infrastructure needs to be prioritized. There have not been recent reliable censuses taken to understand the general population, and we therefore lack a breakdown of the number of people involved in the fishing sector. None of the locations have a jetty or dock, complete cold chain felicities making landing fish difficult. These basic community needs require immediate attention to improve livelihoods across all economic sectors. Once infrastructure needs are addressed, the fishing sector can build the value chain for fish products.

Cold chain

A lack of proper cold chain infrastructure is one of the most significant barriers to the profitable growth of the fishing sector. Without a well-connected cold chain, Puntland seafood products do not meet most standards for export. Additionally, the sector has high levels of waste, which contributes to overfishing, risks the long-term health of the fishery, and releases greenhouse gasses. With proper handling and storage, closing the Puntland  Seafood Gap could result in significant economic growth in the fisheries sector.

Skills

Skills development requires increased support in each of the locations. Attention by development groups is often on discrete projects with tangible, immediate results rather than long-term sustainability. For example, freezers have been installed in many coastal towns. While this is a helpful intervention and would be valuable to the communities in this study, those communities where freezers exist continue to need support for skills development to be able to take full advantage. Without education on how to properly store fish and how to maintain this valuable piece of equipment, a freezer may go unused or be inoperable after the aid group leaves.

Data collection

There are no fish catch data collection systems in place in both locations(Laasqory and Qandala), and few exist anywhere in the Somali region. Catch data are needed to adequately understand and manage fishing activities and ensure healthy fish stocks that can support human needs over the long term. While some cooperatives and businesses may keep catch records, there is no centralized system or repository to inform the fish stock assessments and fishing regulations that are necessary to preserve local livelihoods dependent on fishing. Without data collection initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, it will be impossible to secure the future of domestic fisheries. The international community can advise on methods and provide materials for data collection, thereby empowering fishers, cooperatives, government officials, and academic institutions to create a data collection system to suit their local fisheries.

Key findings include:

• The fisheries sector faces significant sustainability challenges, with 78% to 95% of respondents expressing concerns about various issues, including market access, infrastructure limitations, illegal fishing, environmental degradation, and governance.
• Overwhelming concern exists regarding overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable fishing practices and habitat conservation measures.
• Socio-economic challenges such as lack of access to market, transportation, funding, storage equipment, and community awareness were identified as critical issues, requiring immediate attention, and lack of Alternative of Livelihoods.
• Traditional data collection methods are predominantly used, with perceived reliability varying among respondents. There is a recognized need for improved data collection infrastructure and capacity building.
• Opportunities for intervention include investment in infrastructure, technology, capacity building, and strengthened enforcement against illegal practices.
• Market dynamics indicate seasonal fluctuations and preferences for certain fish products, suggesting opportunities for strategic planning and marketing efforts.
• Capacity-building needs encompass technical skills, quality control, and preservation techniques, highlighting the importance of tailored training programs.

Findings:

1. Sustainability Challenges:

Between 78% to 95% of respondents expressed concerns about various sustainability challenges, including:

• Lack of market access.
• Infrastructure limitations such as inadequate storage equipment and poor roads.
• Environmental degradation caused by drift netting
• Illegal Fishing
• Governance issues, including insufficient collaboration between the government and local cooperatives.

2. Concerns about Overfishing and Habitat Degradation:

• Over 90% of respondents expressed concerns about overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable fishing practices and habitat conservation measures.

3. Socio-economic Challenges:

Socio-economic challenges identified by both fisheries include:

• Lack of access to marketplaces.
• Transportation constraints.
• Funding shortages.
• Lack of storage equipment and community awareness.
• Insufficient knowledge about the importance of seafood.
• Lack of fixed prices for fish sales between Bosaso and Lasqorey Fishers.
• No alternative livelihoods for fisheries

4. Data Availability and Reliability:

 Traditional data collection methods are predominantly used, with varying perceptions of data reliability among respondents. There is a recognized need for improved data collection infrastructure and capacity building.

5. Opportunities:

• Opportunities for intervention include:
• Investment in infrastructure, technology, and capacity building.
• Strengthened enforcement against illegal fishing practices.
• Market development and capacity-building initiatives.

6. Market Dynamics:

• Market dynamics indicate seasonal fluctuations, with September to April identified as dynamic months. Tuna was highlighted as a trending fish product.

7. Capacity-building Needs:

• Capacity-building needs encompass various areas, including net fishing making, skills improvement, fishing boat maintenance, quality control training, and fish preservation techniques.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

Based on these findings, this report proposes several project ideas to address the identified challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the fisheries sector. These projects include sustainable fisheries management programs, capacity-building initiatives, data collection and monitoring system enhancement, awareness campaigns, and climate resilience initiatives.

Proposed Projects:

Based on the findings, the following projects are proposed to address the identified challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the fisheries sector:

1. Sustainable Fisheries Management Program:

• Implement measures to promote sustainable fishing practices, habitat conservation, and governance reform.
• Foster collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to address sustainability challenges.

2. Capacity-building Initiatives:

• Develop training programs to enhance technical skills, Quality assurance and Quality Controls, knowledge about seafood importance, and quality control techniques.
• Provide support for the establishment of marketplaces and transportation infrastructure to improve market access.

3. Data Collection and Monitoring System Enhancement:

• Upgrade data collection infrastructure to enable more accurate and timely data collection.
• Train stakeholders in data collection techniques and promote data-sharing initiatives.

4. Awareness Campaigns and Community Engagement:

• Launch awareness campaigns to promote sustainable seafood consumption and environmental conservation.
• Engage with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of fisheries management and conservation efforts.

5. Climate Resilience Initiatives:

• Implement climate resilience measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the aquatic environment and fisheries livelihoods.
• Support adaptation strategies such as alternative livelihood development and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.

Fishery Assessment Questionnaire

 General Information: 

1. What is your role or affiliation within the fishery?

   – [ ] Fisherman

   – [ ] Fishery manager

   – [ ] Other (please specify): __________

2. Where is the fishery located?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 Challenges:

3. What are the main sustainability and resource management challenges facing the fishery?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Are there specific concerns regarding overfishing, bycatch, or habitat degradation?

   – [ ] Yes

   – [ ] No

5. What socio-economic challenges does the fishery face, such as market access or profitability?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Governance and Management:

6. How effective is the current governance and management structure of the fishery?

   – [ ] Very effective

   – [ ] Moderately effective

   – [ ] Ineffective

7. Are there any legal or policy constraints hindering sustainable practices?

   – [ ] Yes

   – [ ] No

8. How involved are stakeholders in decision-making processes?

   – [ ] Highly involved

   – [ ] Moderately involved

   – [ ] Not involved

Data and Information:

9. What types of data are available for the fishery?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. Are there any limitations in data collection and monitoring systems?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

11. How reliable and accessible is the available data?

    – [ ] Very reliable and accessible

    – [ ] Moderately reliable and accessible

    – [ ] Not reliable and accessible

 Stakeholder Perspectives:

12. What are the perspectives of fishers, communities, and policymakers on fishery challenges and opportunities?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. Are there conflicting interests among stakeholders?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

 Opportunities:

14. What opportunities exist for improving sustainability and management practices? 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

15. Are there emerging technologies or practices for reducing environmental impacts?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

16. Are there alternative livelihood options for fishing communities?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

 Market and Trade:

17. What are the market dynamics and trends for fishery products? 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

18. Are there opportunities for sustainably sourced seafood?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

19. What barriers exist for accessing premium markets? 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Collaboration and Capacity Building:

20. Are there collaborations or partnerships supporting sustainability goals?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

21. What capacity building needs exist for stakeholders? 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Climate Change and Environmental Factors:

22. How is climate change affecting the fishery?

    – [ ] Positively

    – [ ] Negatively

    – [ ] No impact

23. Are there measures in place to address climate change impacts?

    – [ ] Yes

    – [ ] No

 Future Outlook:

24. What are the prospects for the fishery’s sustainability and viability? 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

25. What priorities and strategies should be considered for future fishery management?  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………