Investigation in the stakeholders, sanitary conditions and distribution channel of the small-scale production of tuna fish (Thonidea) in Côte d’Ivoire

This study focuses on the diagnosis of the artisanal tuna fish production from the open sea of Abidjan, southern Cote d’Ivoire. The investigation was implemented at field during 3 months in 2016 among the tuna producers from three fish working areas in Abidjan. Using dully filled questionnaires, 102 stakeholders were investigated regarding their profile, the fish reception, preservation and sale, and the handling and sanitary concerns. The workers involving in the tuna production channel are fishmongers, processers, and sellers, 91% to 97% of which are female gender especially Ivorians or Ghanaians. They are mainly younger with 50% to 94% below 35 years of age and displaying no rather formal education for sanitary management. Thus, the tuna working environment is generally insalubrious and fewer workers (below 35%) are aware of the lack of hygiene. The stakeholders also face other challenges as fish preservation (100%) and infrastructure (23% to 50%). Any assistance in cleansing of the working areas, sanitary training, more infrastructures development, and sanitary analyses are useful for providing high quality fish to consumers.