Gathering evidence to address illegal trade in African fish maw
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Evidence
VALUE £98,211
WHERE Senegal, Madagascar, Congo
Summary
Fish maw is an important high-value dried seafood product, widely traded in Asian markets, alongside sea cucumber, abalone and shark fin. Very little is known about this trade, in particular the species harvested, source fisheries, and associated livelihoods, yet Customs data indicates that trade from Africa is growing, with concerning under-reporting of exports. This project will investigate fish maw trade dynamics for three African source countries and one market destination, focusing on aspects of illegal and unregulated catch and trade.
Over 600 arrests and more than 500 convictions in wildlife crime since 2017, alongside a decline in ivory trafficking cases and an increase in elephant and rhino populations.
