Fisheries in Yemen have suffered from years of conflict, underinvestment, weak regulations, and high fuel prices. Fish production has fallen by an estimated 40 percent from its peak in 2004. Before the recent conflict, fisheries were Yemen’s second-largest export sector and an important contributor to national GDP and foreign revenue earnings. Given rich fish resources in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, artisanal fisheries could be a key sector for economic recovery and food security in Southern Yemen, and international development partners and the private sector have recently made large investments in their infrastructure. However, reliable data are lacking on the current status and development potential of artisanal fishing, the efficiency of fish value chains, and consumer demand for fish.
NEW PUBLICATION | Fish for food security in Yemen: Insights from the Data in Emergencies survey
Fish is the most frequently consumed animal-source food in Yemen, apart from dairy. Fish consumption is highest in coastal southern Yemen but also very common in southern inland districts. Nine percent of households in coastal southern Yemen earned income from fishing. Earning fishing income is highly positively associated with consumption of fish or meat and with the frequency of fish or meat consumption. Sustaining fish stocks and fishing livelihoods is critical to food security and nutrition in southern Yemen.
