Artisanal fishery vs Semi-industrial fishery vs Industrial fishery
There are several types of fisheries, with many differences and similarities between them. A fishery may be divided into artisanal, semi-industrial and industrial fisheries based on the gross registered tonnage, engine power or the type of gear used, impact on the aquatic environment, size of their catches, amount of fish each sector discards, among other factors.
If you are reading this, you are certainly willing to know more about artisanal fishery, semi-industrial fishery and industrial fishery and their peculiarities.
Characteristics of Artisanal Fishery
- Artisanal fishery is rearing fish in inland waters like streams, canals, reservoirs, lakes and rivers.
- Artisanal fishery is mainly subsistence, and the fish are cultured or captured for human consumption only in rare cases are excesses processed as inputs or feed for other agricultural sectors.
- Other fishery types sometimes closely related to artisanal fisheries are subsistence fishery, traditional fishery, recreational fishery, and small-scale fishery.
- Artisanal fishery is often done on a small scale. This implies lower fishing effort, lower input, small capital, and little or no paid labour force.
- Gears used in artisanal fisheries are mostly manual and small. The fishing techniques are mostly based on static gears (nets, pots, lines) and especially at the human level e.g., fishing hooks and lines, pots, cast nets, and seines; vessels include canoes, engine boats, etc.
- Based on profit, artisanal fishery is subdivided into two types: recreational or sport fishery; and subsistence fishery.
- Most countries define this fishery type by vessel size with vessels below 15 m. Typically ranging from 5 to 15 meters.
- Another peculiarity is that an artisanal fisherman has his boat and works on it (if he owns two boats, just one is at sea at any given time).
- Artisanal fishery is carried out by stakeholders who have a strong local presence. Most artisanal fishers of a country are citizens and residents of that country
- Artisanal fishery is done within seven nautical miles offshore.
- Artisanal boats have a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of less than 10 tonnes. e.g. in Ghana, the GRT of a trawler and a shrimper should not exceed 300 and 200 respectively.
- Artisanal fisheries don’t rely on the use of large fishing vessels and significant crews to get their job done.
Now, let us define artisanal fishery in a sentence: artisanal fishery is a small-scale traditional fishery, mostly inland or coastal, fishing techniques mostly based on static gears (nets, pots, lines) and especially at the human level (the shipowner working onboard) with a strong local presence.
Characteristics of Semi-industrial Fishery
- Semi-industrial fishery is practiced in both inland and maritime water bodies
- Semi-industrial fishery resources cultured or captured are partly for human consumption and sale on local markets and international markets
- Semi-industrial fishery is a medium-scale fishery
- Semi-industrial fishery vessels are both motorised and non-motorised vessels. Fishing techniques are mostly based on both passive and active gears (nets, pots, lines, boats, seines, etc.)
- Vessel sizes are somewhere between that of artisanal and industrial fishery sizes
- Stakeholders may be local or international
- Gross registered tonnage is between artisanal and industrial vessel GRT
- It is often community-based
Characteristics of Industrial Fishery
- Industrial fishery is practiced in maritime water bodies like seas, oceans, etc
- Industrial fishery resources cultured or captured are for human consumption and processing to other agricultural inputs like fish meal, fish oil, etc.
- It is large scale
- It uses heavy motorised vessels. Fishing techniques are mostly based large active gears (trwler, shrimpers, etc.)
- Industrial fishery is subdivided into onshore and offshore fisheries.
- Industrial fishery is typically done with vessels above 15 m.
- Residency of stakeholders may be partly international
- Above 100 GTR and varies by country and species exploited.
- Uses significant crews to run the giant fishery vessels and gear
Differences between Artisanal fishery, Semi-industrial fishery and Industrial fishery
Let’s look at the key differences between Artisanal fishery, Semi-industrial fishery and Industrial fishery in the table below.
Table 1: Differences between Artisanal fishery, Semi-industrial fishery and Industrial fishery
Comparison criteria |
Artisanal fishery | Semi-industrial fishery | Industrial fishery | |
| 1 | Aquatic environment | Practiced in inland waters like streams, canals, reservoirs, lakes and rivers. In marine waters, it is done along coastal waters | Practiced in both inland and maritime water bodies | Practiced mainly in maritime water bodies like seas, oceans, etc |
| 2 | Purpose of resources | resources cultured or captured are for human consumption and sale on local markets – in rare cases are excesses processed | resources cultured or captured are partly for human consumption and the rest for sale on local markets and international markets | resources cultured or captured are for human consumption and processing to other agricultural inputs like fish meal, fish oil, etc. |
| 3 | Scale | small scale | medium scale | large scale |
| 4 | Gear type | Manual and small gears. Fishing techniques are mostly based on static gears (nets, pots, lines) | Motorised and non-motorised vessels. Fishing techniques are mostly based on both passive and active gears (nets, pots, lines, boats, seines, etc.) | Motorised vessels. Fishing techniques are mostly based on large active gears (trawlers, shrimpers, etc.) |
| 5 | Sub-sectors | Subdivided into recreational or sport fishery; and subsistence fishery. | – | Subdivided into onshore and offshore fishery. |
| 6 | Vessel size | Done with vessels below 15 m. | Somewhere between artisanal and industrial fishery size | Done with vessels above 15 m. |
| 7 | Residence of stakeholders | often local | Local and international | Mostly international |
| 8 | Gross registered tonnage (GRT) | less than 10 tonnes | Between artisanal and industrial vessel GRT | above 100 GTR and varies by country and species exploited. |
| 9 | Crew size | Personal or Family-based, recruiting just a few persons | Community-based | Significant crews to run the giant fishery vessels |
Conclusion
The above differences and similarities between both concepts have been elaborated to cover just the basics. Consult related posts made solely on artisanal, semi-industrial or industrial fishery types to obtain more information. Kindly drop more differences in the comment section below.
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