Governance of Incomes from the Inland Fishing Industry in the Republic of Congo: Analysis by the Catfish Value Chain, Clarias Gabonensis, from the Lac Télé Community Reserve

Abstract

The results of this study, conducted between July and November 2019, have identified that a Clarias gabonensis value chain in the North part of Congo is principally dominated by men with regards to fishing activities and women with regard to the marketing of fish products harvested from the Lac Télé Community Reserve (LTCR) to the cities of Impfondo, Pokola and Oyo. Both the fishing and the marketing are practiced by all age groups in the reserve and others localities. Among fishermen, 20.40% are over 55 years old and 69.60% are between 18 and 54 years old. 34.69% have no education 38.77% have a primary level of education and 26.53% have a secondary level of education. In comparison, wholesalers and retailers have mainly a basic educational level; 30% of the workforce is over 50 and over 70% have more than 10 years of experience in the business. The absence of institutional investment in this value chain is demonstrated by the importance of internal investment, resulting in dependence between the actors.