Independent Evaluation

Evaluation Presentations

Full Evaluation Report

Fish are a source of animal protein, healthy lipids, and essential micronutrients. For 2.6 billion people in developing countries, they supply over 20% of the animal protein consumed (compared to 8% in industrialized countries). About 33 million fishers and aquaculture workers (90% of the world's) live in Asia and the Pacific. But fisheries also offer livelihoods, food security, and income for hundreds of millions of people.

ADB's assistance to fisheries began in 1968. By late 2005, it had approved 68 fisheries-related loan projects for $1.4 billion, or 1.2% of ADB's cumulative lending. Operations focused on Indonesia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, which made up 61% of total lending to fisheries.

ADB's policy on fisheries, approved in 1997, sought to tackle widespread poverty among small-scale fishers, overexploitation of fisheries, and degradation of the natural resource base.

In 2006, the Operations Evaluation Department in ADB assessed the extent to which the policy has guided the design and implementation of projects; reviewed accomplishment of its objectives; examined its relevance to ADB's operations, taking into account the status and prospects of fishery resources; studied trends in ADB's assistance; and made recommendations. OED rated the fisheries policy unsuccessful.

The policy did not guide operations and was rated less effective vis-à-vis its objectives. Deficiencies worked against its adoption. The most striking were the lack of an accompanying set of approaches to management of fishery and aquatic resources, the absence of safeguard provisions in the broader context of natural resource management, the omission of strategies for management of inland fisheries, and the weak directions it gave to intersectoral integration.

The policy was only partly relevant to the internal policy context of ADB and to the design and implementation of loan and technical assistance projects. With the evolution of global and regional policy initiatives in fisheries, emerging issues, and contemporary challenges, it quickly became redundant.

Naturally, policy implementation was rated less efficient. Prime factors were the lack of guidelines to support policy application, implementation, and enforcement; and the absence of a monitoring framework.

The policy is unlikely to be sustainable. It was farsighted when prepared, but it was rapidly overtaken by external policy initiatives and challenged by dynamic changes in fisheries. Demand for ADB's assistance contracted. The evaluation study concluded that a revision would not add value and recommended that the policy be retired.

ADB should assess in-house capacity to manage its portfolio. It should adhere to principles for responsible fisheries, refer to the policy instruments of regional organizations, and develop strategic partnerships.

ADB should also integrate fisheries into rural development to create sustainable livelihoods, safeguard the environment, and enhance coastal resource management. It should reclassify aquaculture under agriculture sector development.