Ahmad Husein – February 2026
We are excited to announce the completion of the study on Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries Access to International Seafood Markets. Research and analysis were conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the University of Aveiro, which collected experiences from 7 small-scale fisheries (SSF) market access initiatives from around the world, that currently or are trying to access international markets.
Dr Cristina Pita and Alexander Ford explain that SSF sustain approximately 7% of the world’s population and contribute close to 50% of the total global seafood. Despite the significance of SSF, many are still unable to access markets, particularly international markets.
The research findings show that retailers in Europe and globally, want to integrate SSF into their seafood supply chain and sourcing however, several challenges persist. For example, to meet “sustainable seafood” requirements, suppliers tend to rely on certification or Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). These requirements create barriers to SSF as these initiatives are high in cost and administratively complex where many SSF do not have the resources or monies to enter such programmes. The nature of many SSF means potential additional market barriers – supply consistency, volumes, weak logistics, infrastructure challenges, and lack of available data. As a result, small-scale fishers have been excluded from many global markets.
The report provides suggested solutions to overcome these barriers. From value-chain facilitators, small-scale dedicated marketplaces, FIPs and alternative certification models that can close the distance between small-scale fishers and international markets. For SSF, these markets need to be more inclusive and, most importantly, work with small-scale fisheries instead of working against them.
One of significant breakthroughs in recent years that provides such solution is the launch of Community Catch, a unique initiative that promotes Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability. Officially launched in 2025, this initiative aims to empower small-scale fishing communities to gain market access through an affordable, accessible, and credible certification standard. Today, at least seven fisheries around the globe have been conducting their self-assessment as a starting point for the certification process provided by Community Catch.
Support for this research was jointly provided by SFACT and The Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust.
Read the report in flipbook mode here or download the report here.
