Sub-Saharan Africa faces persistent poverty and food insecurity, with a significant portion of the population living below the poverty line and experiencing undernourishment. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have exacerbated these challenges, hindering progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger). Small-scale fisheries (SSF) offer a potential pathway to alleviate poverty and improve food security, providing crucial economic and nutritional benefits. However, their contribution to food systems remains undervalued in policy and development efforts. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the contribution of SSF to food security and economic well-being in sub-Saharan Africa by analyzing nationally representative data from Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. These countries are selected for their reliance on SSF for fish supply and livelihoods, providing a representative sample of inland and coastal fisheries in the region. The research uses a food systems lens to investigate how SSF influence physical (proximity to fishing grounds) and economic (SSF livelihoods) access to food, examining their associations with poverty, food security, and fish consumption patterns. The findings are discussed within the framework of the SDGs and regional food systems, highlighting areas where interventions are needed to enhance food security, nutrition, and income generation.

Existing research highlights the importance of fisheries, particularly small-scale fisheries (SSF), in providing economic and nutritional benefits to vulnerable populations. Studies have demonstrated the role of SSF in improving food security and livelihoods in various regions, including sub-Saharan Africa. However, there's a lack of nationally representative data at a scale that allows for understanding the contributions of SSF in the region, particularly considering the geographical factors that influence access. This study builds upon previous research by incorporating a broader geographical perspective and a food systems framework, looking at both physical and economic access to food influenced by SSF. The study also acknowledges the unequal distribution of benefits from SSF and aims to identify contexts where SSF contributions are most significant and where interventions are needed to maximize their positive impacts.

This study employed a secondary analysis of data from the World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Surveys and Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) for Malawi (2016-17), Tanzania (2014-15), and Uganda (2010-11). These nationally representative datasets included a dedicated fishery module, providing information on household fish consumption (frequency, quantity, form), small-scale fisheries livelihoods (harvesting, processing, trading), and socio-economic characteristics. Georeferenced household data were linked with geospatial data on water bodies (from the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database) and coastlines (from the European Space Agency GlobCover database) to calculate the distance of each household to the nearest fishing ground. A cut-off threshold of 5 km was used to classify households as proximate or distant to fishing grounds for descriptive statistics, while the distance variable was treated as continuous in regression analysis. Two probit regression models were used to estimate the probabilities of being income poor (below the national poverty line) and food insecure (based on the Food Consumption Score index). These models included variables like distance to water bodies, distance to markets, livelihood type (fishing, agriculture, neither), household characteristics (age, sex, education, employment), and a wealth index. The analysis considered all three countries combined and individual countries, distinguishing between rural and national levels. Descriptive statistics utilized Welch's t-test to compare means between proximate and distant households and fishing versus non-fishing households. Data were weighted to ensure national representativeness. The study acknowledges potential biases related to the calculation of straight-line distances and the modification of GPS coordinates for data privacy.

The analysis revealed significant associations between proximity to small-scale fisheries and improved income and food security. Households within 5 km of fishing grounds showed a 15.2 percentage point lower probability of income poverty compared to those more than 5km away. Households engaged in SSF livelihoods had a 9 percentage point lower likelihood of being income poor than those solely involved in agriculture. Proximity to fishing grounds was associated with a 12.6 percentage point lower probability of food insecurity. Households engaging in SSF livelihoods demonstrated a 9.8 percentage point lower food insecurity rate than agricultural households. Fish was the most commonly consumed animal source food across all three countries, with higher consumption frequency and quantity among households near fishing grounds. The study found that proximity to fishing grounds reduced inequalities in fish consumption between wealthy and poor households by approximately 30%. Dried fish was a particularly important food source for households in rural areas and those distant from fishing grounds. However, these associations were not universally consistent across all three countries. In rural Uganda, fishing households exhibited higher probabilities of both income poverty and food insecurity compared to agricultural households, potentially reflecting inequities in benefit distribution from export-oriented fisheries in the region.

The findings highlight the substantial contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty reduction and improved food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The positive associations between proximity to fishing grounds, involvement in SSF livelihoods, and improved food security and income are consistent with the notion that these fisheries play a vital role in local food systems and economic activities. The reduced inequalities in fish consumption near fishing grounds emphasizes the potential of SSF to address nutritional disparities. The differences observed between countries, notably the negative association in rural Uganda, point towards the importance of considering governance structures and value chain dynamics in understanding the distributional impact of SSF. Export-oriented value chains might not always benefit local communities, and this needs to be considered in policy interventions. The study’s findings are relevant to SDG targets focusing on poverty, hunger, inequality, and sustainable use of marine resources, providing empirical evidence to support policy actions that recognize the significance of SSF in achieving these goals.

This study underscores the critical role of small-scale fisheries in enhancing food security and income in sub-Saharan Africa. Proximity to fishing grounds and engagement in SSF activities are strongly linked to improved outcomes, but this relationship is context-specific. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management and equitable distribution of benefits from SSF. Future research could focus on exploring the impact of various governance mechanisms, value chain interventions, and trade policies on the equitable distribution of benefits from SSF to achieve sustainable development goals.

The study's use of straight-line distances to fishing grounds may oversimplify the complexities of access. The modification of GPS coordinates for data privacy might introduce some degree of uncertainty. The cross-sectional nature of the data limits the ability to establish causal relationships. The varied definitions of 'fishing household' across the three countries could affect comparability. Finally, a more detailed breakdown of fish species and their nutritional value would strengthen the analysis.