Market chain analysis for the trade in live reef food fish

Abstract

Market chain analysis can provide information on distribution of costs and profits to intermediaries and identify concentrations of market power. This paper explores market chain issues for the live reef food fish trade, a highvalue
export fishery involving nearly 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with demand centred in Hong Kong. The characteristics of the trade mean the market chain is more extended than most seafood chains. With supply dominated by artisanal fishers in developing countries, there are concerns that gains are being unevenly distributed along the chain. This paper describes the market chain for live reef fish and identifies key cost, revenue and risk components that may affect the distribution of value along the chain.