Market Evolution for Small-scale fisheries in Africa (MESA)

As development takes place under the blue economy umbrella, small-scale fishers are typically overlooked. The 'Market Evolution for Small-scale fisheries in Africa' (MESA) discovery project will conduct research with Mauritian small scale fishing communities to assess their need for an integrated traceability, tracking, safety at sea and digital seafood 'Marketplace' platform, with the goal of enhancing fishers' financial inclusion.

The project will demonstrate the economic, social, gender, capacity and environmental benefits that could be achieved through future implementations in the diverse communities of small-scale fishers in Mauritius (and indeed other countries).

MESA is based on the integration of three existing UK and South African-developed technologies and approaches: the ABALOBI ICT 'hook to cook' platform (including a Fisher catch logging smartphone app and digital Marketplace system); the Stone Three small vessel tracking and safety transponder, and exactEarth Europe's low cost exactTrax / exactSeNS satellite data communication and vessel tracking services. Using human-centred design methodologies, Mauritian fishers will determine the suitability of the proposed technological offering, and their capacity to engage usefully with the technology. Fishers will act as co-creating participants, ensuring that any future service is fit for purpose, informed by local context, is sustainable, and will be readily adopted.