Use of Household Dynamics to Estimate Inland Fisheries Harvest

Inland fisheries provide key food and economic benefits worldwide. Despite their importance, data concerning inland fisheries production and consumption are generally poor, often leading decision-makers and others not involved in the fisheries sector to undervalue the importance of inland fisheries as a source of food and wellbeing. Tradeoffs that do not adequately consider the dynamics of fisheries production with alternative freshwater uses (e.g. irrigation, hydropower, transportation, municipal use, and industrial use) can have a negative impact on fish habitat, thereby reducing fisheries production. These negative impacts can then reduce the food security, health, and societal wellbeing benefits that inland fisheries provide to local communities. One way to obtain estimates of inland fish harvest is to use household dynamics to study fish consumption to better quantify the nutritional and economic importance of inland fisheries. The consumption data can then be used to estimate inland fisheries harvest. In Burma, for example, inland fish harvest measured through household studies was almost 3 times greater than the harvest value obtained using catch reported by licensed fishers. Better estimates of inland fisheries harvest would aid decision-making regarding the impact of land- and water-scape changes on inland fisheries production and consequently, food and economic security.