Supporting more sustainable, productive and inclusive fish agri-food systems
Annual Report 2018
The CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) made significant progress in producing and disseminating a suite of research innovations for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture across Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
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Message from Nigel PrestonChair of the Independent Steering Committee
FISH made progressive advances in all aspects of its operations in 2018, including executing the annual plan of work and budget, recruitment, funding, fulfilling reporting requirement and planning for the future.
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Message from Michael PhillipsDirector of the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH)
New and critical understanding of fish in food systems is clearly emerging from FISH, reshaping traditional views about responses to the challenges posed by climate change and meeting the growing global demand for fish.
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Highlights from 2018
FISH research contributes directly to 10 SDGs
FISH research contributes to aspects of 3 other SDGs
Research Highlights
Where we work
FISH pursues an integrated body of research in six focal countries. Three are in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar) and three are in Africa (Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia). In addition, the program focuses on Egypt as a research hub and training center for our aquaculture capacity development in Africa, and Solomon Islands as a hub for our learning networks on small-scale fisheries governance in the Pacific.
Successes and lessons learned from research are scaled with partners to achieve impact and are being progressively expanded to Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Vietnam.
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Africa
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We completed research on integration of fish into foresight studies and fish supply-demand modeling, including landmark publications on sustainable aquaculture growth at Africa regional level and for Zambia, both indicating the essential need for future investment in fisheries and aquaculture.
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Our participatory engagement with regional and national governments along the four main trade corridors in Southern, Eastern, Central and West Africa led to some significant policy shifts, including fish product standards and trade facilitation. The COMESA Fish Inspection and Certification Facility, which was opened in December 2018 on the Zambia-Zimbabwe-Mozambique border, is one example of outcomes from research that identified challenges impeding cross-border trade, including lengthy customs and bureaucratic formalities at border posts.
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We designed and tested tablet-based performance assessment tools in several countries, including Egypt. A new partnership with private sector feed manufacturer Skretting was agreed to further develop these tools and extend their use in tilapia aquaculture, with a focus on Africa.
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We produced new knowledge on gender barriers and implications in fisheries-dependent communities, published in key papers from Malawi and Zambia.
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Our research on fish disease and biosecurity provided new surveillance and diagnostic techniques and tools for addressing the global challenge from the emerging tilapia lake virus (TiLV). Assistance with the application of these tools was provided to several countries to improve policies for health management, including Egypt and Zambia.
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Our research fed into a rapid assessment of fish in food systems and value chains in the Great Lakes region, as reported in keynote presentations and a side event at the 6th Pan-African Fish and Fisheries Association conference.
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Findings from a youth-focused study led by FISH managing partner IWMI in eight focal countries are being published in a brief on youth in fish agri-food systems and a FISH Youth Strategy, due for 2019 release. In addition, actions are being integrated into new youth-focused interventions in the ten-country aquaculture component of the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation initiative and capacity development in an aquaculture vocational and entrepreneurship training investment in Zambia.
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We conducted studies in Nigeria to identify entrepreneurship opportunities for women.
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Asia
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Improved fish breeds, aquafeeds, fish disease control measures and/or improvements in aquaculture management practices derived from our research continued to be disseminated widely and adopted by fish farm households across Asia, through multiple channels and partnerships.
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Co-management innovations derived from our research were adopted across large areas of the Meghna river system in Bangladesh and the nationally important hilsa fishery, contributing to substantial gains in productivity and sustainability.
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In a series of experiments in Bangladesh and Vietnam, our feeds research showed that low-protein, high-energy diets stimulated natural food production in the pond, which compensated not only for the reduced supply of dietary protein but also contributed to higher fish growth.
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Research on fish in sustainable rice-fish systems and co- organization of a regional symposium led to the Naypyitaw Agreement, a foundation for policy change to enable adoption of integrated rice-fish system innovations by farmers at scale in Myanmar and potentially beyond.
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Our research with the Government of Odisha, India contributed to policy changes in the state. For example, the Government Policy Corrigendum on Grant of Long-term Lease of Gram Panchayat Tanks for Pisciculture allows communities longer term access to small water bodies for aquaculture.
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Our technologies and management systems were integrated in climate-smart agriculture initiatives in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam, leading to several promising climate-smart agriculture innovations for vulnerable communities dependent on aquatic systems. During 2018, a gendered analysis of the learning and outcomes from these investments in Bangladesh was conducted, including drawing out lessons to enhance impacts of climate-smart agriculture investments in Bangladesh on vulnerable women.
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We completed a study on the adoption of better management practices in Bangladesh. The study, which will be published in 2019, indicated that farmers adopting simple operational improvements had 50 percent higher productivity.
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Our assessments of potential for sustainable intensification of aquaculture in Bangladesh identified changes in fish farming technology and management that can help make the global transition to more intensive forms of aquaculture more sustainable.
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Our research made national policy contributions in 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Myanmar.
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Pacific
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A study conducted with FISH managing partner James Cook University and published in Nature Climate Change contributed a new framework for building adaptive capacity in tropical coastal communities. The framework was subsequently tested through cases in five countries, including Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.
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We collaborated with private sector partner Pelagic Data Systems to develop an integrated data pipeline to highlight temporal and spatial changes in production from small-scale fisheries. The proposal was a winner of the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture’s 2018 Inspire Challenge, which encourages the use of big data approaches to advance agricultural research and development.
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We generated new knowledge and collaboration on cross-scale governance mechanisms, with evidence published in key papers focusing on Pacific Island coastal fisheries and Solomon Islands.
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Our small-scale fisheries researchers facilitated revision of the national fishery law in Timor-Leste governing 75,000 hectares of coastal seas. Forty diverse stakeholder groups across three workshops, and a technical working group across many meetings, saw a 15-year-old fisheries law reduced from 465 articles to 150 and made relevant to the fishery sector, supporting the rights of fishers and promoting nutrition security through fisheries.
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We conducted youth-focused research in eight focal countries, including Solomon Islands, providing a framework for analyzing youth inclusion and identifying potential interventions for more youth-inclusive aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
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We tested the ‘light touch’ approach to community-based resource management in Solomon Islands, as a result of which 1137 hectares of marine water area were brought under improved management by 23 communities.
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Our efforts to support women fishers to participate in decisions about small-scale fisheries, including through the landmark Women Fishers’ Forum, are providing inputs to fisheries policy processes in Timor-Leste.
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Stories of Change
Aung Kyaw fishing in his pond.Photo by Majken Schmidt SøgaardReduced Poverty
Sustainable increases in fish production directly increase the income of small-scale producers, provide opportunities for value chain innovations and reduce the cost of fish for consumers. In the aquaculture sector, our focus is on enabling farmers to improve their livelihoods via transformational gains in productivity and profitability. In small-scale fisheries, innovations for more effective and inclusive governance and management seek to enhance equity and diversity of livelihood opportunities for fisheries-dependent women, men and youth.
Research underlines livelihood potential of rice-fish farming
MyanmarIn Papat village, the rice field of Kyi Kyi Than and her husband Aung Kyaw looks the same as those of their neighbors, except for one difference: they grow fish as well. “I don’t need to buy...
Carp intensification doubles production and increases profits
IndiaIn Odisha State, fish farmers have been able to double their production and increase their profits thanks to a carp intensification program. The program is being carried out as part of a six-year...
Champa Debnath, a World Fish trained farmer is showing Mola from her pond. Dumuria, Khulna, Bangladesh.Photo by Habibul HaqueImproved food and nutrition security
Fish is a vital, nutrient-dense food for many nutritionally vulnerable people, including children and pregnant and lactating women. We specifically address micronutrient deficiency by increasing polyculture of micronutrient-rich small indigenous fish species, using improved feeds to enhance the nutritional value of fish and increasing productivity and reducing waste and loss in fish value chains important to poor consumers.
Scaling successes from nutrition-sensitive fish production
Bangladesh, MyanmarIn Myanmar, fish is an important food in the diet. An increasing demand for fish has boosted aquaculture, which has grown rapidly in the last 20 years. However, there are geographical disparities in...
New inspection and certification facility boosts cross-border fish trade
Zambia, Zimbabwe, MozambiqueOn 6 December 2018, COMESA, an economic bloc of 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, launched the COMESA Fish Inspection and Certification Facility in Luangwa, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe-...
CBRM youth training, Solomon Islands.Photo by Meshach SukuluImproved natural resource management
There are dramatic national and regional differences in environmental footprints of aquaculture for the same species and production methods. We are using life-cycle assessment to quantify the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of aquaculture production to identify and promote the development of gender-responsive aquaculture systems with low environmental impact. In small-scale fisheries, we are uniquely placed to integrate local-scale action research on tenure systems with analysis of broader institutions and policies for governance, contributing to equitable resource use and restoration of agroecosystems in both inland and coastal environments.
Lite-touch approach to resource management shows promise
Solomon IslandsIn Solomon Islands, where coastal resource decline and environmental degradation are increasingly putting livelihoods and food security at risk, community-based resource management (CBRM) is the main...
Using research to help fisherfolk co-manage their fishery
MyanmarIn Myanmar, small-scale leasable fisheries have typically been controlled by a well-off leaseholder. Following the adoption of a new Ayeyarwady fisheries law in 2018, fishing communities are being...
Men prepare to drop their fishing lines, Santupaele village, Western Province, Solomon Islands.Photo by Filip Milovac.Climate change
Research that addresses the grand challenge of climate change is one of several important crosscutting issues in FISH, particularly as fisheries and aquaculture production adapts to changing ecological challenges and opportunities. During 2018, we contributed several outputs and outcomes to the CGIAR climate change portfolio, including dimensions related to vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation.
Building adaptive capacity to climate change
Solomon IslandsMany government and nongovernment organizations are working to equip people to respond to climate change, to minimize negative effects and even look for new opportunities. Having ‘adaptive capacity’...
In-pond innovation doubles production, minimizes water use
EgyptTo mitigate the impact of rising production costs and limited land and water availability in Egypt, we are testing innovative ways for fish farmers to sustainably increase productivity and...
Womens' focus group, Timor-Leste.Photo by Alex TilleyGender and youth
Our gender research seeks to overcome identified gendered barriers limiting women’s access to and control of key assets and resources, effective participation in decisions and equitable and substantive wealth generation and livelihood benefits from fish value chains. Our approach is articulated in the FISH Gender Strategy, published in 2018. Our youth research progressed during the year with a study assessing youth in fish agri-food systems in eight focal countries. Research findings, which identified various challenges facing young people looking to engage in or remain in fisheries and aquaculture, are being integrated into a brief and a FISH Youth Strategy, due for release in 2019.
Gaining a voice at the first Women Fishers’ Forum
Timor-LesteIn the remote fishing village of Adara, on Atauro Island in Timor-Leste, men have typically made the decisions about how fishery resources should be managed. But following our efforts to improve...
Opening up economic opportunities for young people
Egypt, ZimbabweAswan, home of Lake Nasser, has one of the highest unemployment rates in Upper Egypt. In the wake of Egypt’s 2011 uprising, governorates like Aswan that were heavily reliant on tourism suffered...
Local service provider talking on phone.Photo by Foto AgenciesCapacity development
As a strategic enabler of impact, capacity development is important in all change mechanisms of the FISH impact pathway and is required to support movement from research outputs to research outcomes and ultimately to development outcomes. In 2018, we made substantial progress in capacity development activities across various dimensions, including researchers, national partners and communities, at global, regional and national levels. Capacity development in Africa was a priority.
Boosting aquaculture through farmer-to-farmer learning
Sierra LeoneSmall-scale aquaculture has significant potential to diversify livelihoods, raise incomes and create employment opportunities as well as improve household food security through greater access to...
Providing digital advisory services to small-scale fish farmers
BangladeshA new agreement with ACI Agribusiness, a leading aggregator of agri inputs in Bangladesh, will enable us to provide timely and affordable access to digital advisory services to small-scale fish...
Communications and knowledge sharing
Our Partners
Our partners are essential for bringing technologies and innovations to scale and achieving development impact. We work with an extensive network of partners, including international, national, regional and local governmental institutions, universities, private sector organizations and NGOs, who share our commitment to creating positive change for the millions who depend on fish in the developing world.
179 active partnerships
- 54Academic and research institutions
- 44Development organizations nongovernmental, networks and regional organizations
- 32Private sector
- 12National agricultural research and extension systems or national agricultural research systems
- 10Governments
- 7CGIAR
- 6Community-based organizations and farmer groups
- 6Foundations and financial institutions
- 4Bilateral and donor governments
- 2Multilateral
- 2Others
Investors and Financials
To meet future demand for fish, particularly in developing countries, production will need to double by 2030. The scale of this challenge requires research innovations across the whole spectrum of fisheries and aquaculture production systems and value chains. We are extremely grateful to all our investors who enable us to conduct this vital research. In 2018, FISH had 46 investors, providing a total budget of USD 25.7 million.
| W1/W2** | W3/bilateral | Total | |
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| Sustainable Aquaculture | 2,550,247 | 12,142,658 | 14,692,905 |
| Sustaining Small-Scale Fisheries | 953,055 | 8,493,894 | 9,446,949 |
| Cross-program investments | 905,366 | 905,366 | |
| FISH management and support costs | 703,775 | 703,775 | |
| FISH total | 5,112,443 | 20,636,552 | 25,748,995 |
| W1/W2** | W3/bilateral | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Aquaculture | 2,561,474 | 10,123,797 | 12,685,271 |
| Sustaining Small-Scale Fisheries | 914,526 | 8,505,735 | 9,420,261 |
| Cross-program investments | 898,823 | 898,823 | |
| FISH management and support costs | 678,338 | 678,388 | |
| FISH total | 5,053,211 | 18,629,532 | 23,682,743 |
| W1/W2** | W3/bilateral | Total | |
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| Sustainable Aquaculture | (11,227) | 2,018,861 | 2,007,634 |
| Sustaining Small-Scale Fisheries | 38,529 | (11,841) | 26,688 |
| Cross-program investments | 6,543 | 6,543 | |
| FISH management and support costs | 25,387 | 25,387 | |
| FISH total | 59,232 | 2,007,020 | 2,066,252 |
FISH people
Independent steering committee (ISC)
- Nigel Preston, ISC Chair, University of Queensland, Australia
- Editrudith Lukanga, Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization, Tanzania
- Gareth Johnstone, WorldFish, Malaysia
- Ian Cowx, University of Hull, United Kingdom
- M.A. Sattar Mandal, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
- Marian Kjellevold, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
- Mark Smith, International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka
- Tony Haymet, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Australia
Country directors
Africa
- Harrison Charo Karisa, Country Director, Egypt and Nigeria
- Sloans Chimatiro, Country Director, Zambia and Tanzania
Asia
- Malcolm Dickson, Country Director, Bangladesh
- Yumiko Kura, Country Director, Cambodia
- Michael Akester, Country Director, Myanmar
Pacific
- Delvene Boso, Country Director, Solomon Islands
Management Committee (MC)
- Michael Phillips, MC Chair, Director, CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems and Aquaculture and Fisheries Sciences, WorldFish
- Cristiano Rossignoli, Monitoring and Evaluation Leader, WorldFish
- Cynthia McDougall, Gender Research Leader, WorldFish
- David Shearer, Director of International Partnerships and Program Delivery, WorldFish
- Emily Khor, Program Lifecycle Performance Manager, WorldFish
- Harrison Charo Karisa, Country Director, Egypt and Nigeria, WorldFish
- Johan Verreth, Head of the Chair Group Aquaculture and Fisheries, Wageningen University & Research
- John Benzie, Sustainable Aquaculture Program Leader, WorldFish
- John Linton, Commercial Director, Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich
- Marc-Antoine Baïssas, Director of Finance and IT Systems (interim), WorldFish
- Michael Akester, Country Director, Myanmar, WorldFish
- Philippa Cohen, Resilient Small-Scale Fisheries Program Leader, WorldFish
- Paola Reale, Research Programs Manager, WorldFish
- Shakuntala Thilsted, Value Chains and Nutrition Program Leader, WorldFish
- Sonali S. Sellamuttu, Head of Southeast Asia Office, International Water Management Institute
- Tana Lala-Pritchard, Director of Communications and Marketing, WorldFish
- Terry Hughes, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
