Fish Trade Research Articles

Drifting Away from the Roots: Genderfluidity as Diola’s Mangrove Fishing Strategies in Three Island-Villages of Northern Guinea-Bissau

AbstractBiodiversity loss, habitat degradation, globalization, and societal transformations are challenging rural, and especially coastal communities in Guinea-Bissau where mangrove-dependent livelihoods are exposed to increased vulnerability. The Diola, traditional farmer-fishermen of the northern island-villages, have witnessed swift societal changes following the country’s economic liberalization, climate change, and youth migration from rural areas. Despite historically being a secondary subsistence activity with more predefined gender roles rooted in tradition, mangrove fishing has become a major source of cash income. Yet, women’s mangrove fishing contributions are still overlooked, resulting in general assumptions of static female fishing identities with limited control over their income. We present three case studies of Diola women’s involvement in mangrove fishing through a mixed method approach that combines qualitative techniques and household surveys conducted between 2017 and 2023. Specifically, we explore: (1) diverging societal coping strategies and livelihood developments in three Diola villages; (2) the primary drivers behind village-specific societal transformations; (3) social dynamics and female roles in mangrove fishing-related activities and village decision-making; and (4) the political ecology of interventions. Our findings underscore the complexity of gender-fluid small-scale fishing strategies as female roles beyond fish trade defy cultural generalizations. Contemporary Diola women make autonomous personal and work choices that meet their current needs and add to their household budget to face new welfare demands. Inclusive resource governance needs more gender-specific data for meaningfully implemented interventions adapted to local circumstances, enabling an active participation of all genders in conservation practices and development.

Atmospheric Cold Plasma to Maintain Sea Bass Quality: An Opportunity for International Fish Trade

Whole chilled sea bass is an essential product for the European food market, and Türkiye is the foremost supplier. The importance of sea bass in the world food trade reveals the significance of food safety risks that may arise during or after harvest. This study aimed to examine the impact of atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) on delaying the spoilage of sea bass. The ACP is generated by an original device that produces a dielectric barrier discharge plasma using an alternating current (AC) power supply, applying a 30 kV high voltage with a sinusoidal frequency of 20 kHz. Whole sea bass samples were treated for 1 min (ACP1) or 7 min (ACP7), and then stored at 2 ± 1 °C. Sensory scores of plasma-treated sea bass were higher throughout the storage period. Both treatments decreased the initial bacterial load and delayed bacterial growth (p ≤ 0.05) during storage. The mesophilic aerobic bacteria count of control samples exceeded 6 log CFU/g on the second day of storage. However, ACP1 and ACP7 did not reach this value until the third and fourth days. The control samples had higher TMA-N and TBARS (p ≤ 0.05) than plasma-treated groups. The treatment did not significantly change the texture. Although ΔE was higher in ACP samples, a discoloration that could affect acceptability was not reported during the sensory test. Cold plasma can improve the overall market value by maintaining quality, benefiting the global fish trade. It has been shown that cold plasma has promising potential in the fresh fish industry.

Innovative Pathogen Reduction in Exported Sea Bass Through Atmospheric Cold Plasma Technology.

The safety of sea bass is critical for the global food trade. This study evaluated the effectiveness of atmospheric cold plasma in reducing food safety risks posed by Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes, which can contaminate sea bass post harvest. Cold plasma was applied to inoculated sea bass for 2 to 18 min, achieving a maximum reduction of 1.43 log CFU/g for S. Enteritidis and 0.80 log CFU/g for L. monocytogenes at 18 min. Longer treatments resulted in greater reductions; however, odor and taste quality declined to a below average quality in samples treated for 12 min or longer. Plasma treatment did not significantly alter the color, texture, or water activity (aw) of the fish. Higher levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) were observed with increased exposure times. Cold plasma was also tested in vitro on S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes on agar surfaces. A 4 min treatment eliminated the initial loads of S. Enteritidis (2.71 log CFU) and L. monocytogenes (2.98 log CFU). The findings highlight the potential of cold plasma in enhancing the safety of naturally contaminated fish. Cold plasma represents a promising technology for improving food safety in the global fish trade and continues to be a significant area of research in food science.

Explaining major shifts in early-modern economies: the causes for the decline of the North Sea Fisheries of Southwest Denmark, 1537–1657

ABSTRACT In the early modern period, the region of southwest Jutland, Denmark, faced international competition and climate change. By the early sixteenth century, the region enjoyed remarkable wealth thanks to a booming fish trade. Catches peaked at levels not surpassed before the twentieth century, and the trade in North Sea herring, haddock, cod, plaice, and skate supported thousands of fishers and merchants. Fishing benefitted from favourable environmental conditions and strong demand from the nearby German market. In the seventeenth century, the region began to decline, primarily because of changes in the international market with competing supplies and declining prices for whitefish relative to agricultural products. Environmental forces had both positive and negative effects on the fishery. The shocks of the Swedish occupation of 1628–29 and the flood of 1634 exacerbated the decline. The demise of North Sea fishing coincided with a shift in urban wealth from middle-class fish merchants to a small group of cattle-trading patricians and led to a general contraction and emigration of the human population along the North Sea coast. The study shows that economic factors and environmental forces must be considered to get a full picture of the region as it faces international competition and climate change.

ANALYSIS OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF INFORMAL FISH TRADE ROUTE AND DESTINATION BY FISH TRADERS BETWEEN MALAWI AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

Choice of trade route and destination by cross border traders is an important decision in today’s increasingly cross border trade of products including fish. The current study examined the geographical factors influencing choice of informal trade route and destination by fish traders. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted for the study. These included semi-structured questionnaires through personal interviews and key informant interviews with fish border inspectors. Data was analyzed through various techniques for trader’s choice and destination. Specifically, principal component analysis and spearman correlation, and Huff’s gravity model were used to identify significant factors influencing choice of trade route and destination, and market attractiveness, respectively. Fish traders bypass official border posts using informal routes connecting the main route before and after the border post. Despite attempts and awareness about formal trade, stringent regulations forced fish traders to use informal trade routes. However, investigations into choice of trade routes and destination found that route distance, presence of alternative destination, mode of transport, demand of the fish product, and personal safety and risks were the factors influencing choice of both trade route and destination by informal fish traders. This geographic analysis provides a basis for addressing challenges in informal cross border trade in Malawi. It is recommended that strategic efforts and investments should be made in the development of transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways to improve connectivity between secondary routes and one stop border post. The government should also intensify awareness initiatives on COMESA simplified trade regime (STR) to encourage informal traders to transition to the formal sector through use of formal routes.

Embryonic development of the world's smallest puffer fish, Carinotetraodon travancoricus - a threatened freshwater fish of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot.

The Malabar dwarf puffer, Carinotetraodon travancoricus is the smallest known pufferfish (family Tetraodontidae) and one of the smallest freshwater fishes of the Indian subcontinent. Due to their miniature size, wacky behaviour and appearance, they are much preferred in the international aquarium fish trade, although little is known regarding their breeding activity in captivity and their embryonic development. The purpose of this study was to fill these knowledge gaps. Wild-caught Malabar dwarf puffers were acclimatised to conditions, and pairs were introduced to breeding tanks. Adult fishes were fed with live and frozen diets including Artemia nauplii, moina and bloodworm. During spawning seasons, adult fish displayed elaborate courtship behaviour around sunset. Carinotetraodon travancoricus is a batch spawner releasing 1 to 5 eggs per diem. The eggs were spherical, and non-sticky, with a diameter of 1.48 ± 0.1 mm, and hatching took place after 108 to 116 h post-incubation. The newly hatched larvae were 3.5 ± 0.2 mm in length, and weighed 2.9 ± 0.4 mg. The early larvae have substantial yolk and oil globules as an energy reserve. Histological studies on mature females suggested the batch spawning nature of the species and low fecundity. Given its unique reproductive behaviour and characters, in situ protected habitats are required to ensure their continued survival in the wild, apart from encouraging captive breeding to augment the demand in the international aquarium fish trade.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN SATE LILIT IKAN BANDENG SEBAGAI UPAYA MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN DAN STATUS GIZI BAGI MASYARAKAT

Food is essential for human survival. The government has to provide and distribute food which is affordable and safe for the people to consume. The society in Muara Gembong District, Bekasi Regency, mainly makes a living from fish farming, agriculture, and trade. A vivid example of food availability is the utilization of local resources through 'food modification'. One popular culinary product is satay, which is usually made from meat. However, in this particular training, we used a local raw material, namely milkfish, as the main ingredient for making sate lilit (a type of satay). Milkfish contains high protein, namely around 20-24%; rich with micro and macro minerals; as well as has a soft, chewy, and savory texture. The results of the training, based on the results of the pre-test and post-test, showed an n-gain score of 0.6. This number signifies that the making of sate lilit was medium. Furthermore, in an effort to follow up on the aforementioned result, we hope that SMAN 1 Muara Gembong can become a part of the mentoring groups of the study program.

Removal of nitrate and phosphate by aquatic plants during aquarium‐based ornamental fish production

AbstractObjectiveThe rising demand for ornamental fish and plants in aquariums is met through industrial production. However, higher production densities may negatively impact water quality (such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and dissolved oxygen levels), thus impacting production. This can be mitigated by utilizing specific aquatic plants to promote sustainable ornamental fish production. This study aimed to determine how the water quality in ornamental fish tanks can be improved using two floating aquarium plant species: Najas grass Najas guadalupensis and Java moss Taxiphyllum barbieri.MethodsThe efficiency of nitrate and phosphate filtration by the two plant species was determined in aquariums containing Endler Guppies Poecilia wingei. The duration of the study was 4 weeks, and the water quality parameters were measured weekly. The growth rates of the two plants were measured at the beginning and end of the study period.ResultNajas grass effectively maintained lower nitrate and phosphate levels while showing robust growth. By week 4, nitrate levels in control tanks rose to 33.75 and 35.00 mg/L in the two independent experiments, while nitrate in tanks with Najas grass only reached 8.75 and 11.50 mg/L. Phosphate levels in control tanks increased to 2.42 and 2.40 mg/L compared to 1.075 and 1.05 mg/L in tanks with Najas grass. In single‐species tanks, Najas grass showed a 1.6‐fold biomass increase, while Java moss showed a 1.2‐fold increase. In tanks with both species, Najas grass biomass increased significantly, whereas Java moss biomass decreased.ConclusionThe superior competitive ability of Najas grass (allelopathy and increased nutrient uptake) underlies the findings of this study and indicates that this species is a better option for maintaining low levels of nitrate and phosphate in aquarium water. This finding can contribute to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for fish species involved in industrial ornamental fish production and trade.

Pengaruh Modal Usaha, Jam Kerja dan Lama Usaha terhadap Pendapatan UMKM

Income is the amount of money or value obtained by an individual or company from economic activities carried out, such as the sale of goods, services or investments. Income is usually used as a benchmark to find out how successful the business is in obtaining profits from its business activities. The higher the income, it can be said that the business is running well. This study was used to analyze the influence of business capital, working hours and business duration on MSME Income (Survey on smoked fish traders in Kedungombo Reservoir, Grobogan, Central Java). The population of this study is smoked fish MSME actors In the Kedungombo reservoir, Grobogan, Central Java, totaling 60 traders. The sample of this study was taken from a total of 60 traders. The type of data used is quantitative data, the data source used is primary data. The sampling technique in this study is the saturated sample method or also called census. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire through validity and reliability tests. The data analysis technique uses classical assumption tests, namely multicollinearity test, autocorrelation test, heteroscedasticity test, normality test and hypothesis test using multiple linear regression analysis, t-test, f-test, R2 test. The results show that business capital has a non-significant effect on MSME income while working hours and business length have a significant effect on MSME income.

The View of Islamic Economic on Risk Management Strategies For Wet Fish Traders

Humans in their lives always face possibilities, both positive and negative. Humans who face negative possibilities due to various reasons can be said to be facing a risk, including in trading businesses where at the start and in progress there is a possibility that there will be risks to be faced. For this reason, initial efforts are needed to anticipate various risks that may occur in running a business. The data analysis method used in this research is descriptive analysis. This research aims to identify the risk management strategies implemented by wet fish traders in Sungai Cemara Village, Sadu District and analyze the Islamic economic view of the risk management strategies implemented by wet fish traders in Sungai Cemara Village, Sadu District. This research approach is a descriptive qualitative research approach. Participants in this research were fishermen and buyers of wet fish in the village. Meanwhile, the research location is in Sungai Cemara Village, Sadu District. In obtaining data in the field, observation, interviews and documentation are used. The research results obtained are: first, the risk management strategy implemented by wet fish traders in Sungai Cemara Village, Sadu Fish District, namely always maintaining the quality of the goods to be sold so that customers do not feel disappointed, lowering the selling price and transferring it to other traders and increasing the number of stones. ice or store in the refrigerator. Second, the Islamic economic view of the risk management strategy implemented by wet fish traders in Sungai Cemara Village, Sadu District does not contain transactions that are prohibited in Islam, for example swearing falsely when selling their merchandise. Apart from that, there are no elements of false promotion or oaths made by fish sellers to be convincing.

Composition, Conservation Status, and Market Value of Fish Landed at the Labuhan Haji Fishing Port, Aceh, Indonesia

Labuhan Haji Fishing Port (PPP) is the only type C port in the South Aceh. Several types of fish categorised as near threatened and vulnerable, including sharks and rays, are still caught and traded at Labuhan Haji PPP.. This research aims to determine the species composition, species conservation status, and economic value of fish landed at Labuhan Haji PPP South Aceh. This research was conducted in July-August 2022 at the Labuhan Haji Coastal Fishing Port (PPP), Pasar Lama Village, Labuhan Haji District, South Aceh Regency. Identification of fish types is carried out by matching the morphological characteristics of the fish with the morphological characters referring to https://www.fishbase.se/se/search.php. The conservation status of fish species refers to the red lists from IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered of Wild Flora and Fauna), and KEPMEN-KP/1/2021 regarding protected fish species. The economic value of fish was obtained through brief interviews with fish traders at the research site. Besides, the data collected includes the selling price range for fish at Labuhan Haji PPP. The research results showed that Perciformes was the most frequently found order at 37% (26 species, 10 families), and Carangidae was the most frequently found family at 19% (13 species). Based on the IUCN red list, 64% Least concern, 9% Not evaluated, 7% Data deficient, 7% Vulnerable, 6% Near Threatened, 4% Endangered, and 3% Critically endangered. Based on CITES, 7% is recorded as Appendix II, and 93% is not evaluated. Based on Ministerial Decree No.1 KEPMEN-KP/2021 concerning Protected Fish Types, no species are listed as protected fish species in Indonesia. The fish with the highest economic value are from the Serranidae family, with an average price of IDR. 63,333 /Kg and the type of fish with the lowest selling price is from the Mobulidae family, which has an average price of Rp. 8,500/Kg. The types of fish landed at Labuhan Haji PPP are caught using purse seines, gill nets, fishing rods, and floating charts (fish aggregating devices).

Current disease treatments for the ornamental pet fish trade and their associated problems

AbstractThe trade in live ornamental fishes to be held as companion animals or displayed in public aquaria has an estimated global annual value of US$15–20 billion. Supply chains for ornamental pet fishes often involve many more parties than for fish farmed as food fishes, and at each stage, fishes are exposed to stressors including handling, confinement, crowding, mechanical disturbance, and poor water quality. If chronic, these stressors can compromise their immune system, making fishes more susceptible to pathogens. Mortality and morbidity from infectious disease can result in considerable welfare impacts and massive economic losses for the industry, and the range of infective agents seen in ornamental species is well documented. However, treating these diseases is not straightforward with practices varying greatly across the trade and with several approaches having unintended consequences, such as the emergence of resistant strains of pathogens. While disease treatments for a handful of fish species (e.g., koi, goldfish) have received focused research attention, for the home aquarium owner, there is an increasing reliance on products based on natural compounds which have received far less scientific attention. This review aims to highlight the gaps in our knowledge surrounding the range of disease treatments used across the ornamental pet fish trade, with a particular focus on freshwater tropical species destined for home aquaria. Consideration is given to the potential problems arising from these treatments, including microbial resistance and effects of treatments themselves on fish health and welfare.

Prevalence of Bacterial Diseases in Ornamental Fish Rearing Units of Kolathur, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Ornamental fishkeeping is a widely embraced hobby globally. In India, Kolathur, Chennai Tamil Nadu is an important ornamental fish hub involved in trading of ornamental fishes. As a lucrative industry, the ornamental fish trade faces significant challenges due to diseases caused by various pathogens, impacting market value and causing economic losses. Methods: A surveillance study was conducted in Kolathur, Chennai, from December 2022 to August 2023. Ornamental fish samples exhibiting clinical signs of bacterial diseases were collected from the farms and retail outlets. Bacterial isolation and identification techniques, including conventional and PCR detection, were employed to isolate and identify bacterial strains from infected fish samples. Result: Out of 196 fish samples, 51 (29.4%) were found infected with bacterial pathogens. The prevalent bacterial pathogens included Aeromonas veronii (47%), A.caviae (17%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15%), Streptococcus sp. (11.3%), Mycobacterium fortuitum (5.6%) and Shewanella sp. (3.7%). Different fish families exhibited varying susceptibility to bacterial diseases, with cyprinids being the most affected (56.6%). The findings stress the importance of adhering to health regulations to prevent transboundary spread and suggest the development of targeted management strategies to sustain the health of ornamental fish populations.

Analysis of the Application of Islamic Business Ethics Principles on Putat Jaya Market Traders Sale and Purchase Transactions in Surabaya

The market serves as a mechanism to provide incentives and facilitate economic activities in the society, in particular the UMKM market in Indonesia, which is divided into two, modern market and traditional market. In this modern era, traditional markets are still in the public; although some are already interested in e-commerce, one of the markets still in demand by the population is the traditional market Putat Jaya that exists in Surabaya. Based on the phenomenon that occurred in the Putat Jay market, the author is interested in carrying out research with the title “Analysis of the application of Islamic business ethics in the sale and purchase transactions of fish traders in Putat Jaya Market in Surabaya City." In this study, the author uses qualitative methodology of a descriptive approach by performing three stages of data collection, namely observation, interviews, and documentation. Based on the results of research, on the Putat Jaya market, most traders have adhered to Islamic Shariah in sale and purchase transactions and have implemented some of the principles of Islamic business ethics.

When borders close: Social networks, resilience and food security among informal cross-border fish traders on the Ghana-Togo border

Cross-border fish trade contributes to regional food security and is a source of income for informal traders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities of cross-border traders were severely affected. Lockdowns and border closures limited the movement of people and goods, hindering regional trade. The study builds on a survey using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews conducted in Ghana in 2021 and examines the impacts of the Ghana-Togo border closure on informal cross-border female fish traders’ livelihoods and food security. The findings demonstrate that despite traders’ great efforts to keep their businesses afloat, the border closure affected the traders’ mobility, trade routes, trade volumes, and incomes, which in turn negatively affected the variety and quality of their households’ diets. However, the study also documents how traders were able to implement different strategies to cope with the difficult situation by activating and extending trust-based social networks crucial for trade. The authors therefore conclude that the social embeddedness of fish traders’ informal economic activities was decisive for the resilience of the cross-border trade system during the pandemic, which at least to some degree mitigated the negative effects on traders’ livelihoods and food security.

Implementing Zonal Aquaculture Innovation Platforms in Uganda: Key Lessons Learned

Uganda’s aquaculture sub-sector is rapidly developing, contributing up to 22% of all fish produced in the country. However, the sub-sector still faces challenges related to limited access to extension services, production inputs, post-harvest handling facilities, disease incidences, value-addition skills and weak market linkages. Although there have been isolated interventions at different aquaculture value-chain nodes, the registered challenges continue to recur. To address prioritized issues in Uganda’s aquaculture sub-sector, nine zonal aquaculture innovation platforms were established based on the country’s nine agro-ecological zones. These platforms brought together different stakeholders to identify solutions to common problems in each aquaculture value-chain node. Each innovation platform consisted of fish farmers, hatchery operators, traders, extension workers, researchers, input dealers, local leaders, and financial institutions. During a series of zonal workshops, participants identified constraints to the aquaculture sub-sector in their respective zones. From the findings, there are technical knowledge gaps across the entire aquaculture value chain mainly affecting hatchery operators, input suppliers, and farmers. Therefore, there is need for coordinated interventions to enhance access to production technologies, innovations, knowledge, and skill transfer to promote gender-centered aquaculture development.

A Case Study on Economic Analysis of Sea Cage Farms in the Black Sea, Türkiye

The main aim of this research is to understand the value chains of enterprises engaged in aquaculture in sea cages in the Black Sea region of Türkiye, to determine production costs and to make a general analysis of the aquaculture sector. Random sampling method was used to ensure that farmers were equally represented in the survey. Data for the survey were randomly selected from 16 separate farms spread throughout 4 different marine cage locations. Furthermore, fish traders and sector stakeholders were interviewed. The businesses examined within the scope of the study are divided into 3 groups: small (250 -500 tons/year), medium (501-999 tons/year) and large (>1000 tons/year), according to their capacities. The most important expense items of enterprises consist of variable costs. Among the variable costs, the purchase of fry fish, feed purchase, and labor costs constitute the most important expenditure items. Among the fixed costs, the most important expense is depreciation costs. The unit cost of one kg of fish varies between 2.7 and 3.0 euros. Considering that the trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the Black Sea are at the level of 3.5 Euro, the profit rate of the enterprises is between these levels. Recently, since trout from the Black Sea has been exported to the Far East Country (particularly Japan), its price has also increased. In 2018, the average retail price (including VAT) and medium selling price of seabass and trout were at a level of 5.24 and 5.34 Euros respectively. Despite all these positive developments, climate change continues to pose a threat in terms of disease outbreak and marketing problems.

Determinants of Fisheries Trade Competitiveness: The Case of Malaysia

Fisheries constitute one of the most globalised food industries and significantly contribute to a nation’s socioeconomic development and international food security. Malaysia is a small open economy endowed with fisheries resources; however, the rapid growth of international trade has changed the patterns of fish trade dependence. It has now become a fish importer and experienced a critical fish trade deficit since 2009, implicating eroding trade competitiveness of Malaysian fisheries in the global market. The existing empirical studies on competitiveness conclude that Malaysia loses the competitive status in the international fish market, but the Trade Competitiveness Index (TCI) and its determinants have not been thoroughly explored. Hence, this present study aims to examine the short and long run effects of trade openness, the exchange rate and fishery employment on the TCI of Malaysian fisheries during 1976– 2018, using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The findings conclude that Malaysia has lost its trade competitiveness in terms of TCI in the global fishery market. The ARDL results show that an appreciation of the exchange rate as well as more trade openness and fishery employment enhance the TCI in the short run (i.e., a few years), but have negative effects in the long run. To ameliorate trade competitiveness, higher restrictions on fish imports are recommended, as well as more adoption of science and technology in fisheries in the long run, given the nature of the exchange rate, appreciation policies are proposed in the short run.

Economic Dynamics of Urban Fishermen in Muarareja: The Death of Fish Auction Places

This study examines the closure of the Fish Auction Place (TPI) in Muarareja, which was caused by debt agreements between fishermen and fish traders for boat purchases. The closure of the TPI has led to fishermen losing access to a competitive sales platform and becoming dependent on the traders' markets. The research method used was qualitative with a case study approach, through semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and documentation. The research participants included 6 skippers or fishermen who own ships, 5 crew members (ABK), 6 collectors or traders, and 3 mothers who make salted fish around the TPI. Data collection was carried out from June 1 to August 28, 2023. The purpose of the study was to analyze changes in the dynamics of patron-client relationships among fishermen in Muarareja and to examine the economic and social impacts of the closure of the TPI. The results showed that the closure of the TPI changed the mechanism of buying and selling fish to be more closed to patrons (traders), which significantly affected the social and economic dynamics of urban fishermen. Based on these findings, it is recommended to examine the effectiveness of alternative programs such as fishermen's cooperatives or micro-loans, and further research is needed on the revitalization of the TPI to improve the overall welfare of fishermen. In the context of public policy, it is also necessary to consider strategies that strengthen the capacity of fishermen in facing increasingly complex global economic challenges. This research is expected to provide significant theoretical and practical contributions to the field of sociology, especially economic sociology.

Effect of Usage of Finance on Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises of Fish Trading Along Lake Victoria Region Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of usage of finance on performance of small and medium enterprise of fish trading along Lake Victoria region Kenya. The study was anchored on positivism philosophy while credit rationing theory was used as a guide to the study. Methodology/Approach: Mixed research design was adopted in the study. Target population of 4,500 respondents with a sample size 173 of traders was selected using the Yamane formula. Questionnaire and interview schedules were used as data collection instrument. The study data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics which include mean and mode. Descriptive statistics was computed to summarize and describe the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Data was presented using tables. Findings: Simple linear regression results showed that usage of finance had a positive significant effect on performance of Small and Medium Enterprises of fish trading along Lake Victoria region (coefficient of correlation 0.698, p=0.000<.005, t=12.166). Implications: The study findings have shown that usage of finance is significant hence available funds should be utilized to enable performance maximization.