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Abstract:
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The regional programme entitled “Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable solutions” is being implemented by the WorldFish Center and FAO.
In Malawi, the programme component for this study involves understanding and
developing business innovations to reduce vulnerability among female fish traders along the south-eastern Arm of Lake Malawi. After the initial assessment phase, a business innovations strategy is developed and piloted to reduce vulnerability of female fish traders.
In this study, social and economic characteristics of female fish traders in the target areas were analysed, including age, mobility, education level and marital status. The majority of respondents is between 20-40 years old, with low education levels and married, often to boat owners or boat crew members.
As fish trading is seasonal, prices of fish fluctuate, which has an impact on how female fish traders run their business. When catches are high, enough fish is caught to be traded, but when catches are low, fish is more scarce, prices increase and hence the women need to adapt their strategies to obtain enough fish to make a living.
In such situations transactional sex often occurs, when female fish traders engage in sexual relationships with fisher men in order to secure their catch, the so-called “fish for sex” deals.
As fisher men and fish traders are highly mobile as they move between fishing areas
and markets, they spend weeks away from home, increasing the incidence of
temporary, extra-marital sexual relationships. This increases the risk of infection for both male fisher folk and female fish traders. The lack of accommodation in the fishing camps and at the markets further increases these risks.
Along the fish market chain, the study identified various points of vulnerability of female fish traders, including:
(a) competition for fish at the landing sites,
(b) migration and extramarital relationships, and
(c) pressure to reduce operating costs such as transport and lodging.
These insights will assist in the formulation of business-based pilot interventions to reduce female fish traders’ vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. |