The Big Numbers Project (BNP) is a joint activity of FAO, World Bank and WorldFish Center aiming at providing disaggregated information on small and large‐scale fisheries, at the global level and by specific countries. Case studies have been carried out in a selected number of developing countries where fisheries are important and this document presents a synthesis of the results of the analyses carried out so far. Estimates of key Thomson table indicators – i.e. assessments of the shares of small and large‐scale fisheries, in marine and inland waters, in overall catches, local food fish supplies, employment and fossil fuel consumption – for developing countries constitute a main output of this initial project phase.
The main findings include:
• While there exists a large diversity in fisheries and fishery systems in the world, there
appears to be sufficient common features to allow for the use of small‐scale and
large‐scale fisheries as two main distinguishable categories in global policy discussions and country‐level monitoring efforts.
• Official fisheries data on catches and employment are not always reliable. This is
likely to be the case for all types of fisheries but it is of particular concern with regard
to small‐scale fisheries.
• Due to their informal and dispersed characteristics, catches of and employment in inland fisheries tend to be greatly underreported. Both inland and marine small‐scale fisheries in developing countries are often poorly regulated, or not regulated at all, and monitoring is weak. The prevalence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is hence a source of misreporting, both in small and large‐scale fisheries.
• Over half of the catch in developing countries is produced by the small‐scale sector.
90‐95 percent of the small‐scale landings is destined for domestic human consumption and the sector contributes greatly to local food supplies and food security.
• The small‐scale sector employs 25‐27 million fulltime and parttime fishers in developing countries. Another 68‐70 million people are employed in post‐harvest activities and the small‐scale sector hence provides over 90 percent of all fisheries jobs. About half the total workforce are women.
• In addition to fulltime and part-time employment, the small‐scale sector – in particular in inland waters – provides a source of food and income to millions of occasional fishers and fish workers. The sector plays an important role in food security and poverty prevention, constituting a security net for poorer populations both in inland water and coastal areas.
• Many small‐scale fisheries in developing countries are vulnerable to both internal and external threats. The current volatility of fuel prices constitutes a particular concern in this respect since fuel typically constitutes a major part of overall costs in small‐scale fishing in developing countries.