Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture (SSFA) support the livelihoods of nearly half a billion people worldwide, either directly through employment or indirectly as part of fishing households. Despite their relatively small scale, SSFA are vital to global food security and livelihoods, producing 37 million tonnes of aquatic food annually, or around 40 percent of the world total, and providing essential nutrients to over 2.3 billion people. With over 90 percent of global aquatic food at risk from environmental change, the industry must adapt to ensure long-term food and economic security, particularly in the small-scale context where reliance on fisheries and aquaculture is highest.

However, there is a lack of effective strategies in SSFA to address critical challenges such as food loss, where valuable aquatic foods are lost along the value chain due to inefficient handling, and poor infrastructure and stakeholder coordination. Loss in SSFA not only reduces income and food availability but also contributes to environmental harm. Addressing this issue requires understanding where and why losses occur, which is difficult due to the informal, dispersed, and diverse nature of SSFA systems. On top of that, SSFA have historically been overlooked in research and policy circles and have lower economic visibility compared with large-scale commercial fisheries. This has led to significant knowledge gaps, limited investment, and exclusion from decision-making processes.

This guidebook responds to the needs identified by practitioners for a practical, adaptable resource that supports those working to reduce loss in SSFA. It offers a structured approach for developing a project that assesses loss, identifies root causes, or facilitates systems change in local contexts. By helping practitioners gather meaningful information and engage stakeholders, the guidebook contributes to more effective, sustainable solutions that strengthen food systems and livelihoods.

Preview image by Festo Lumwe/WorldFish via Flickr