Food Safety Standards and Fishery Livelihoods in East Africa

Abstract

The export fishery industry in East Africa has experienced a number of important challenges over the past two decades, most dramatically those associated with the new generation of food safety standards imposed by Northern countries.^l Closely associated with this has been the challenge of increasing competitive pressures in global fish markets. The combined effect of these challenges might seem likely to marginalize weaker economic players in the sector, including small businesses, artisanal fishers and boat owners. In fact, this has not occurred.