Small pelagic fisheries in tropical food systems: strengths, challenges and opportunities for Timor-Leste’s small-scale sardine fishery
Abstract
Small-scale, tropical small pelagic fisheries play a vital role in food systems throughout the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). Maintaining and enhancing this role is critical for the livelihoods, nutrition and food security of millions of people. Supporting this, however, requires thoroughly understanding a fishery as a socio-ecological system – its strengths, challenges and opportunities, grounded in local context and knowledge. This PhD research investigates a small-scale, sardine-dominated fishery in Timor-Leste with the aim to identify its strengths, challenges and potential opportunities for enhancing local livelihood, nutrition and food-security outcomes. This was achieved by: (i) identifying the biological and ecological characteristics of tropical sardines that influence fisheries in the IWP and Timor-Leste, based on published literature and fishers’ local knowledge; (ii) investigating the current operation and value of Timor-Leste’s sardine fishery from production to consumption; (iii) evaluating household fishery engagement and benefits at one main harvest location; and (iv) applying a food-system framework to synthesise research findings and identify the fishery’s strengths, challenges and potential opportunities for enhancement. The research applied a pragmatic, transdisciplinary approach and mixed-method research strategy. Quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources were collected and integrated, including a regional literature review, local knowledge, fish catch and effort surveys, household surveys and field observations during 18 months fieldwork at 2 case study sites and nationwide. Timor-Leste’s sardine fishery comprised >8 species from the Clupeidae Family (Sardinella, Amblygaster and Herklotsichthys genera) and other small pelagic species, with differences in size, size at maturity, seasonality and habitat. The most abundant, Sardinella gibbosa (and similar), was associated with turbid river plumes in the wet season and exhibited migratory behaviour. Sardines were widely caught in Timor-Leste, but highest production occurred seasonally near mouths of larger rivers. The fishery was a commercial activity, carried out mainly using drift gillnets from small paddle and motorised canoes, servicing domestic markets and primarily for human consumption. Most sardines were sold fresh and unprocessed by fish traders to coastal, urban and some inland consumers. In 2017–2018, one main harvest site produced an estimated 61.5 tonnes of sardines or >640,900 meals, with a market-equivalent value of nearly USD200,000. Sardine-fishing and fish-trading households at this site varied in relative wealth and food security. All maintained diverse livelihood assets and activities, but sardines provided the main income source for most. Benefits for household material wellbeing included seasonal income, food and food security. However, many households could not save fishery earnings, with cultural obligations a reported barrier. Fishing was perceived as a good livelihood, but seasonally restricted, overlooked by government and ‘not modern’ in practice. Relational wellbeing outcomes were sardine sharing and exchange, shared fishery customs, cooperative fisher–fish trader relations and a community way of life. This first, detailed investigation of Timor-Leste’s sardine fishery demonstrates its importance as a seasonal source of household income, nutritious food and food security, with other diverse non-material outcomes for household and community wellbeing. These strengths, together with local knowledge, customary governance, local trade networks and increasing fish demand, provide good opportunities to enhance the fishery food system and address existing challenges – in particular, fishers’ concerns for the sustainability of the fishery.