Fisheries and food security in Timor-Leste: the effects of ritual meat exchanges and market chains on fishing

• Published in: Food security Vol. 5; no. 6; pp. 807 - 816
• Main Author: POBLACION, Enrique Alonso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2013; Springer
• Subjects: Agriculture; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Case Study; Environment; Environment. Living conditions; Food Science; Life Sciences; Medical sciences; Plant Sciences; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Social Policy; Social Sciences; South east Asia; Timor; Asia; Timor-Leste; Fishery; Ritual exchange; Food security; Timor-Leste; Meat product; Markets; Fishing; Meat
• ISSN: 1876-4517; 1876-4525
• DOI: 10.1007/s12571-013-0308-2

Timor-Leste fishers use simple fishing techniques, boats and equipment, and the fishery sector presents a unique opportunity to promote an environmentally sustainable pattern of fishery resource management. Timor-Leste has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world, and fish could provide the needed protein, vitamins, and micronutrients. Here, I describe the models of production, distribution, and marketing of fish, and the consumption patterns of animal proteins. I discuss how ritual meat exchanges and marketing constraints influence the current economic strategies of fishing households. As a result, I suggest that in order to animate the sector, development policy should promote domestic fish consumption instead of general production along with investment and management of ice distribution systems.