By SEAFDEC/MFRD
Summary
Most fish caught in ASEAN is utilized; higher value fish is well looked after but low value fish are not treated as well. In the past, a portion of this low value fish went to the production of fishmeal, but a larger portion went to direct human consumption. Today, because of supply/market pressures, more and more of these fish are being diverted to non-human usage, while fish demand for human consumption is increasing. It is necessary, as an ‘adaptation to a changing environment’ and to improve food security, to look at ways to optimize the utilization of fish catch so that those involved may receive the best economic return for their product and/or that more of the product could go for human consumption. The issue of low value fish is discussed particularly in relation to value adding. Other issues relating to incentives, capacity building, infrastructure, regulatory control, technology transfer, quality, waste, and by-product utilization are also discussed. These issues must be addressed with appropriate actions over the next decade.
Background
This sub-theme covers virtually all aspects of fish technology from capture to market. For marine capture in the ASEAN region, with the exception of two fishing areas and at peak capture times, most fish caught is landed, and for the most part, discards are negligible. This pattern of catch retention is different from other areas in the world and has been brought about by technological changes and economic/marketing pressures particular to the region. High value fish is well looked after, low value fish not. Nevertheless, all the fish landed is utilized. One problem is some of the catch of low value fish may contain juvenile fish of high value species. Also, some high value fish can be reduced to low value fish due to poor handling on-board.
Significant improvements in the utilization of fish as food have taken place over past decades, notably in the major fish-producing countries. Facilities, including cold storages and ice plants, as well as infrastructure for fish handling, distribution and marketing, and techniques for improved fish handling on-board maintain the quality of the catch. Modern fish processing factories have been established in these countries for processing high value and high quality fish and crustaceans, including tuna and shrimp as frozen, filleted or canned products, with an increasing amount of them destined for export. Concurrently, many new fish products have been developed which may be exported and are available in local supermarkets in urban centers, including fish balls, fish cakes, imitation crab sticks, breaded squid rings, breaded fish or shrimp, fish crackers, and other products.
Most of these improvements revolve around high value or “luxury” fish and an industrialized fishery or larger aquaculture enterprises. It also accounts for a small proportion of fish used for food in the region. Food fish, especially in rural areas, may come from small-scale fisheries and aquaculture and inland fisheries. Within ASEAN, over 50% of fish is consumed fresh and/or is processed into a high value product, 8-65% (most between 30-45%) converted into traditional products, and another varying percentage is used for direct feed for livestock or high value species aquaculture, or indirect feed by conversion to fishmeal/oil.
One concern that needs be addressed over the next decade is the utilization of low value fish. Due to supply pressure and the expansion of aquaculture, low value fish is increasingly being diverted from direct human consumption. Optimum utilization, including developing and marketing value-added products from these fish need be examined. Further, the economics of fish marketing need be investigated, currently even if it were possible for fishers to adopt better practices to land a better catch; the benefits of doing so are probably outweighed by the costs of capital investments. Indeed, if prices of low value fish remain high (for non- human use), then the incentives to land better quality fish for human consumption will not be strong.
In view of the current state of fisheries and increasing population in the region, demand will certainly increase but per capita consumption may actually decrease over the next decade. Currently although most fish within the region is utilized, much of the catch landed is of poor quality and is utilized for non-human consumption or very low value products. It is necessary to look at methods of optimizing the utilization of fish catch, so that those involved may receive the best economic return for their product, and/or that more of the product could go for human consumption. Technological innovation has changed the fishery in the past as exampled by the development of surimi, which has transformed a group of low value fish into a value-added industry.
Technological innovation throughout the entire supply chain needs be investigated and examined, including ways technology may further stimulate demand for higher quality, improve economic returns, reduce wastage, and by-product utilization.
Value-adding, improved traditional processing and product demand should stimulate fishermen to land a better quality fish. Thus improved on-shore utilization is the key to improving on-board handling. However, improvements depend for a major part on the economics and situation, which needs to be studied further, particularly for low value fish as it relates to food security. Generally improvements have been made to fish handling, processing, distribution and marketing of exported products, to meet market requirements. This has to be built upon, to meet new demands for domestic product quality and safety.
Issues
The issues at the time of the Millennium Conference were low economic returns for low value fish, poor quality raw materials, poor handling on-board, lack of infrastructure (landing facilities, storage, distribution channels), lack of support to extension services, poor access to credit and support to marketing cooperatives or SME’s. It was noted at that time there was a need for improving utilization on-shore by applying value-added technologies, improving traditional products, and developing methods of utilization of underutilized species or species that are seasonal or have a characteristic that makes utilization difficult. There was also need for programs reducing waste and increasing by-product utilization. The RTC and National Seminars on Post- Harvest Technology agreed that the issues mentioned above are still valid today, and highlighted the following issues that need more immediate action and should be addressed over the next decade:
Inadequate human resources and expertise.
Fishermen need greater training on IUU/traceability and on-board handling. On-shore fish processors and workers have similar problems; there is a lack of knowledgeable workers and even a lack of manpower in some countries where it is necessary to hire workers from foreign countries. More technical support needs to be given to extension services, training material developed, continued accelerated training on post-harvest technology and training of trainers programs for both government and industry, and knowledge on handling and implementation of the cold chain at all levels. Guidelines for specialized handling on-board need be developed, for example salting on board is currently uncontrolled and inconsistent. Training on fish handling should be required as part of the requirement for issuance of permits at all levels for fish vessel crews.
Inadequate infrastructure and regulatory control
Many fisheries, particularly small-scale fisheries and inland fisheries still have inadequate infrastructure.
Governments should be encouraged through their national development activities to improve fisheries infrastructure such as provision of clean water, water treatment facilities and ice making facilities where appropriate. Where feasible, governments should create a fish processing zone/area. Additionally, in many areas there is a need for stricter port hygiene regulations, better enforcement and control, and better management along the supply chain. There is still a need to co-ordinate the control activities and legislation of various regulatory authorities that oversees the product throughout the supply chain. Recommendations for this action are found in sub-theme 4.3. Standards and guidelines for fishing vessel design and construction respecting on-board fish hygiene need be developed.
Poor handling, processing, distribution and marketing
As noted above, in many cases there is still a lack of clean water, ice, and equipment and facilities. Many establishments have no control system such as GMP/SSOP, HACCP or ISO 22000 as needed. Handling should not be limited to just dead fish, but live as well. Work on the development of value-added products should be continued. Low-cost methods should be investigated. Improvements in fish distribution and marketing should be investigated. Studies should be conducted on economic returns of low value fish, and a baseline study on post-harvest losses should be carried out.
Poor utilization of underutilized species, by-products, and recovery of processing wastes
As noted in the Millennium Conference, more work has to be done on underutilized species. Work also needs to be conducted on waste reduction and recovery, and environmental impact of fish waste. Where appropriate, the application of zero-waste processing should be applied. More research should be conducted on activities to increase by-product utilization for human consumption; alternative use of waste such as bio-fuels; and
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activities on utilization of wastewater from production sources including from on-board facilities.
Pharmacological use of by-products should also be investigated.
Lack of incentives/credit
There should be greater access to credit for post-harvest activities, and greater support to develop marketing cooperatives and/or SME’s. Incentives should be made available to foster a demand for higher economic returns and more fish for human consumption.
Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusion
Mindful of the issues of food security, and recognizing the demand for fish will increase, while the supply may not keep pace, it is necessary that efforts be made to optimize the utilization of the existing and future fish catch to ensure that as much of the catch as possible is directed to human consumption to help alleviate shortages in food supply.
Recommendations
I. Improve human resources and expertise in fishery post-harvest technology, by:
a) Developing training programs on post-harvest technology which could be used by extension workers; conduct training of trainers programs for both government and industry on critical aspects of handling, processing, distribution and marketing in the fish supply chain, and implementation of the cold chain at all levels; and trains the industry.
b) Developing standard training requirements on fish handling as part of the requirement for issuance of permits at all levels for fish vessel crews.
c) Developing guidelines for specialized on-board handling or on-shore activities II. Improve national infrastructure, by:
a) Encouraging governments through their national development activities to improve fisheries infrastructure where appropriate.
b) Developing standards and guidelines for fishing vessel design and construction respecting on-board fish hygiene.
III. Improve handling, processing, distribution and marketing, by:
a) Developing guidelines for handling live fish
b) Continue work on the development of value-added products, particularly for low value fish using low-cost methods as appropriate.
c) Conducting studies on distribution and marketing of fish d) Conducting studies on economic returns of low value fish e) Conducting baseline studies on post-harvest losses
IV. Increase utilization of underutilized species, by-products, and recovery of processing waste, by:
a) Continuing research on optimum utilization of underutilized species.
b) Conducting studies on waste reduction and recovery, and environmental impact of fish waste.
c) Conducting research into by-product utilization.
V. Improve the use of incentives/credit to promote the industry and alleviate poverty, by:
a) Promoting greater access to credit for post-harvest activities, and greater support to develop marketing cooperatives and/or SME’s.
b) Investigating incentives to foster a demand for higher economic returns and more fish for human consumption.
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Annex 21