Lessons Learned from ABALOBI Deployments in Mediterranean Countries
The deployment of ABALOBI technology in Mediterranean countries has provided an invaluable opportunity for reflection and growth for both ABALOBI and the WWF Mediterranean offices. As these initiatives come to a close, we must assess the experiences, challenges, and successes encountered during the project. A workshop hosted in November 2023 facilitated a transparent exchange of insights, and the key lessons learned from these deployments offer critical guidance for future efforts.
Though the feedback primarily reflects the experiences of WWF teams in Greece and Italy, many of these lessons apply to Albania and Croatia as well. Here, we outline the major takeaways from the Mediterranean deployments of ABALOBI’s digital tools, focusing on stakeholder expectations, local factors, technology uptake, and recommendations for future success.
Managing Expectations
One of the first lessons from the Mediterranean deployments revolves around the expectations of fishers and buyers. In both Italy and Greece, small-scale fishers anticipated that ABALOBI FISHER would offer an easy-to-use platform to sell their daily catch, boost income, and increase market access. Buyers, on the other hand, expected access to high-quality, locally sourced seafood through a convenient online system. These value propositions had been successfully delivered in South Africa and were expected to translate similarly.
However, some misunderstandings emerged. In Greece, many fishers did not initially realise they needed to work collectively to sell their catches. They expected to individually market their catch to buyers, not realising that ABALOBI’s model aggregates catches from multiple fishers. Moreover, some fishers feared that using the app would obligate them to sell all their catch through the platform, potentially disrupting relationships with existing buyers. This miscommunication created reluctance to fully engage with the platform until expectations were clarified.
In the future, clearer and more explicit communication regarding the operational realities of ABALOBI’s technology and its collaborative nature will be crucial in aligning expectations. Thorough briefing sessions with fishers and buyers will help mitigate confusion and ensure all stakeholders understand both the opportunities and limitations upfront.
Local Factors Shaping Success
A key insight from these deployments is that local factors significantly influenced the success and challenges of each project. Issues related to infrastructure, logistics, and regulatory environments presented unique hurdles in Italy and Greece, with implications for future deployments.
In Italy, the lack of basic infrastructure, such as gutting stations, made it difficult for fishers to offer the quality of seafood buyers expected. In Greece, transportation was a major challenge due to the geographic distance between fishing communities and buyers, increasing costs and risking supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, local seafood regulations and tax laws in Greece raised concerns among fishers about the potential financial consequences of creating a digital profile, contributing to hesitation in fully adopting the platform.
These challenges highlight the need for thorough research into local contexts before deployment. Future projects should assess operational, logistical, and regulatory landscapes in depth to determine if and how these factors can be overcome within the available budget and timeframe.
Technology Adoption and User Experience
The uptake of ABALOBI technology was slower than anticipated in all regions, with various features of the technology influencing adoption rates.
In Italy, the ABALOBI FISHER app's documentation failed to meet regulatory requirements, creating a barrier for users. On the other hand, the management benefits of the app were well-received by Italy’s Fishers Consortium, encouraging some uptake. However, pushing fishers to consistently log their catch proved difficult across regions.
In Greece, the lack of features like in-app communication and photos of seafood products in the MARKETPLACE app discouraged adoption. Fishers and buyers resorted to coordinating orders via Whatsapp, bypassing ABALOBI's systems. However, the traceability QR code feature in the app was a notable success, promoting transparency and trust among users.
For future deployments, refining these tech features and developing user-friendly guides will be essential for increasing adoption. Enhancements to in-app communication and improving the alignment of tech with local regulations will help foster broader engagement.
Key Recommendations
Based on the challenges and successes encountered, several recommendations have emerged to enhance the success of future deployments:
Thorough Preliminary Research: Conducting extensive research into the local regulatory and logistical landscape is vital to preempt potential obstacles and better match the ABALOBI platform to the needs of small-scale fishers.
Engaging Existing Collective Structures: Target fisher communities with established cooperation structures. ABALOBI’s system depends on aggregated catches, and building new collaborations from scratch is time-consuming and complex.
Set Realistic Expectations: Provide detailed tech demos and clear communication about the platform’s features and requirements to ensure that stakeholders fully understand what to expect from the project.
On-the-Ground Support: Recruit trusted community leaders who understand the local context and project goals. They can act as intermediaries between implementation partners and fishers, building trust and encouraging participation.
Dedicated Logistics Coordinator: Assign a person or team to manage logistics, reducing the burden on fishers and ensuring smoother operations from order placement to delivery.
Conclusion
The ABALOBI deployments in Mediterranean countries offered invaluable lessons on the complexities of empowering small-scale fishers through digital technology. While challenges arose, the projects underscored the importance of collaboration, trust-building, and clear communication among stakeholders. As ABALOBI and WWF Mediterranean offices look to future deployments, these insights will guide their efforts in creating sustainable impacts within coastal communities, helping fishers to embrace technology while enhancing seafood supply chains.