SoundWaves: Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway

Women’s hidden labor takes center stage in Mozambique’s Inhambane Province. Women collect shellfish and other marine resources by hand in shallow waters. Though vital for food security and income, gleaning remains largely unseen and undervalued. The episode highlights daily realities, including limited access to storage, finance, and markets, and how gender norms shape opportunities. It also explores ways to better recognize, support, and empower women gleaners.

Nigeria’s aquaculture sector stands at a turning point. This episode explores findings from an AABS study across Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo, revealing both challenges and opportunities. Despite high import dependence, farmers show strong interest in change. We dive into Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), a system combining fish, shellfish, and seaweed for smarter, greener production, and what it will take to turn potential into action for Nigeria’s aquaculture future.

Bangladesh’s small-scale fishers face challenges linked to climate change, seasonal fishing bans, and limited social protection. This episode examines how these factors affect livelihoods during closed fishing seasons and reviews existing support mechanisms. It also highlights opportunities to strengthen social protection through more inclusive policies, improved targeting, and better alignment with the needs of fishing communities.

What if the fish didn’t have to spoil before reaching the market? In Kilifi, Kenya, solar-powered freezers are changing that reality for small-scale fishers. This episode explores how AABS and partners are introducing pay-as-you-go cold storage in off-grid coastal communities, reducing post-catch losses, improving fish prices, and strengthening incomes. By replacing uncertainty with reliable solar energy, fishers are building more resilient and profitable livelihoods. 

Zanzibar’s small-scale fisheries are entering a new digital era. Through the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS), paper-based data collection is being replaced with real-time digital systems using tools like Peskas. This enables faster, more transparent fisheries data on catches, species, and fishing zones, supporting better decision-making. By improving data access for fishers, traders, and managers, AABS is strengthening governance, transparency, and sustainability in the sector.

This episode explores the urgent issue of postharvest fish loss in Tanzania’s small-scale fisheries—indicated to be more than 30%. To better understand this issue, researchers carried out an in-depth fish loss assessment focused on the value chain of a small, but important fish, Dagaa. Through the promotion of sustainable post-harvest processing practices, AABS aims to help reduce fish loss and waste.