NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TELEFOOD SPECIAL FUND PROJECT FORMAT

"Icing of Fishery Products"

Target group
Fishermen and fish collectors/traders in artisanal fisheries and small-scale fish culture; of particular relevance for products of high potential value in domestic markets (hotels, restaurants, fish shops) and in export markets, such as certain species of fish, shrimp, lobsters, crabs, etc.

Background and justification
Fresh fishery products, in particular high value species, bring more income to fishermen and fish collectors/traders than dried, smoked or salted products because consumers generally prefer fresh fish. Fresh fish and fresh shrimps, etc. can be preserved in ice and marketed over long distances and even exported if ice is available and used correctly. To do so fishermen and fish traders need to have access to ice and to insulated boxes or containers.

Insulated containers can be made locally from plywood and polystyrene foam. Design of the containers should be adapted to the local conditions (fishing boats, species, climate, distances, marketing, etc). Pre-requisites for supplying an ice machine are availability of electricity (mains or generator), potable water, a community willing to run and maintain the machine and provide a suitable protected place for it.

Objectives
To improve incomes in artisanal fisheries and small-scale fish culture by linking producers to better paying markets.

Duration of the project: Typically one year.

Outputs
A marketing system in place linking producers to better paying markets.

Activities

Linkages with other (FAO) projects
To be defined in every country. Possible links to some training activities in fish technology. Can easily be linked to the post-harvest component of any fishery project.

Inputs/Budget
Ice-making machine (if needed) and/or designs, materials (wood, plywood, polystyrene foam, metal sheet) and tools for construction of insulated containers. Alternatively, but more expensive, ready-made iceboxes can be provided. Backstopping is required by a national fish technologist.

Locally-made containers would cost around US$250 for a 500 liter container to US$400 for a container of 1 cubic meter. The cost of small flake ice machines is upwards from US$2,000 (140kg/day), to US$9,000 (500kg/d) and US$15,000 (1t/d). Local refrigeration engineers can often improvise a block ice machine using second-hand compressors and condensors. In that case, the cost would be around US$5,000 for a 500kg/d machine or US$8,000 for a 1t/d machine. Ready-made iceboxes range from about US$40 to US$100 for different size picnic boxes (40-100 liters) and from US$200 to US$1,000 for different size insulated fish containers (100-1,000 liters).

Monitoring and reporting
The national implementing agency will be responsible for providing FAO with quarterly and final reports in an agreed format. The FAO Representation will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the project and ensuring, through independent audit, that the funds are used correctly.