New index ranks countries by risk of conflict between industrial and small‑scale fishers
Researchers have created an index that scores 126 nations on how vulnerable they are to disputes between large‑scale and small‑scale fishing sectors.
The competition between small‑scale fishers and industrial vessels can threaten food security and livelihoods in coastal communities, especially in the Global South.
A study published on 22 October in Nature Food introduces an index that assigns vulnerability scores to 126 countries for conflicts between the two sectors.
The scores are calculated from three main factors: the extent of industrial fishing activity close to shore, the degree to which countries depend on small‑scale fishing for food and income, and the robustness of their governance systems.
Regional and subregional findings
Africa ranks as the most vulnerable region, followed by Oceania, Asia, and Central and South America.
Within regions, West Africa and South Asia are identified as the most vulnerable subregions.
Country‑level results
The highest vulnerability scores worldwide are recorded by Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mozambique.
Lead author Melissa Cronin, an assistant professor of fisheries oceanography at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, explained that industrial fisheries can impact small‑scale fisheries in many ways, including direct competition for the same target fish species.
She noted that industrial vessels are often technologically efficient, allowing them to harvest fish more quickly and act as “bigger predators” in the system, which can outcompete small‑scale fishers.
The study provides a quantitative snapshot of where conflicts between industrial and small‑scale fishing are most likely to arise, highlighting regions and countries that may face heightened challenges to food security and livelihoods.
