Marketing System of Dry Fish: A Global Prospectives

Fish drying is an ancient preservation method deeply rooted in the traditions of a few fishing communities. Various fish drying methods have been developed in the recent past; yet, sun drying is the most common and widely adopted preservation method. The demand for dry fish has surpassed regional boundaries, finding a strong base in Asian and Mediterranean countries. These regions thrive on dried fish, where consumers appreciate the unique taste and long shelf life of the product. Approximately 40 fish species were reported to use for the preparation of smoked/dry fish products. Among them, dry fish made out of Schizothorax spp. fetch higher price because of their unique taste. The demand for dry is considerably high during monsoon period. For the benefit of dry consumers and market intermediaries, a short marketing channel is preferable due to minimum marketing cost, and higher market margins and efficiency. Lack of capital, technology, storage facilities, market infrastructure and supply oscillation are some of the impeding difficulties for dry fish industry. Demand for dry fish can be raised through commercialization of production and creation of awareness among fish eaters about benefits of dry fish products.