Ten shellfishing communities were identified in the coastal region of Guinea-Bissau and of these, four were surveyed for this participatory assessment. The field survey team was only able to achieve participation from four resource-users, and as such assessment results should be considered a glimpse into shellfishing livelihoods in the country rather than a comprehensive assessment.

A conservative estimate of 836 persons, the majority of which are females, are engaged in shellfisheries livelihoods in Guinea-Bissau. An estimated 8,569 persons are direct household shellfisheries beneficiaries. Further estimates of those surveyed through this participatory assessment indicate that the numbers may be much higher, as high as 2737 persons. According to local key informants, shellfisheries in Guinea-Bissau are women dominated and multi-tribal. The shellfishery sector includes almost all the country's ethnic groups, with highest representation from the Mandingo and the Fulani ethnic groups. The Bijago, Balanta, Beafada, Manjack, Mancanhe, and Nalu groups of Guinea-Bissau are also commonly known to practice shellfishing livelihoods. Shellfish harvesting is traditionally considered a women’s activity in Guinea-Bissau and accordingly, women have traditionally been the majority stakeholders in the sector. However, in recent times, more men have become involved in the industry as a secondary or tertiary occupation. Shellfish harvesters in Guinea-Bissau range in age from 13 to 60 years for both genders. The shellfisheries surveyed are harvested using small axes, cutlass, and by hand picking. Oyster was reported the most popular product and the most demanded by consumers, thereby generating the most income for producers.

Information from field survey participants and key informants suggests that some women harvesters in Guinea-Bissau are active at every node of the shellfish value chain. This evidence of a vertically integrated value chain from harvesting through to consumption implies that value chain improvements at any node could directly benefit at least some women harvesters, creating an opportunity to incentivize behavior change for sustainable resource management.

Survey participants indicated that harvested shellfish is often sold in local community markets, although middlemen also buy and sell it to more distant and large markets. Aside from consumption, additional uses of shellfish products (i.e., shells) include paint making, construction, use in pavement and creating roads (particularly those leading to oyster landing sites), and the filling of potholes. It was observed that mangroves are exploited for cooking, smoking fish and shellfish, and making fences and roofs. Resource users noted that mangroves are not exploited for income generating purposes, rather only dead/dry mangrove material is used as fuelwood, fencing, or other construction.

Several efforts by government, shellfish harvesters, and environmental organizations have been made within the country to minimize threats through mangrove afforestation and training in responsible and sustainable shellfish harvesting. The study showed that a few organised (formal and in-formal) associations exist to regulate the activities of shellfishers. Largely though, policies and laws regarding the management of fisheries and mangrove habitat at the national level are weak Shellfisheries and mangrove ecosystems in Guinea-Bissau contribute to employment creation, relatively cheap sources animal protein, income generation, food security, and poverty reduction.