Digital Transformation for Small-Scale Fisheries: An Integrated Framework to Overcome Adoption Barriers and Enhance Economic Sustainability

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) are paramount to global nutrition, livelihoods, and local economies, yet their economic potential is stifled by persistent challenges including market isolation, price volatility, and significant post-harvest losses. Digital transformation presents a profound opportunity to rectify these inefficiencies and enhance profitability. However, the adoption of technologies such as mobile platforms, blockchain, and IoT remains critically low in developing regions, not merely due to a lack of infrastructure, but because of profound innovation resistance rooted in socio-economic and psychological barriers. This study synthesizes evidence from global cases to argue that overcoming these adoption barriers—including value, image, risk, and traditional constraints—requires more than technical solutions; it necessitates an integrated, multi-stakeholder framework. We propose a holistic model that aligns technological innovation with targeted strategies in digital literacy, inclusive co-design, supportive policy, and innovative financing. This framework provides a actionable roadmap for leveraging digital transformation to finally bridge the gap between technological potential and tangible economic sustainability for small-scale fishers, ensuring gains in equity and resilience are achieved alongside profitability.