Ethnographic Investigations of Commercial Aquaculture as a Rural Development Technique in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThere are many people that I would like to thank and acknowledge for supporting and guiding me through this extensive dissertation process. First, I would like to thank my major professor and the members of my dissertation committee for investing the long hours into mentoring me, reading my drafts, and providing such constructive feedback.Professor Laura Ogden served as my advisor and major professor for several years and made sure I navigated the program successfully. She spent long hours working with me on grant proposal submissions and was instrumental in helping me to develop my dissertation project. She stayed on as a committee member even after her transition to Dartmouth College and helped me secure essential funding that allowed me to remain a full-time student. After Professor Ogden moved to Dartmouth College, Professor Juliet Erazo jumped in as my major professor when duty called and made sure that I stayed on track in the midst of the transition between advisors. Professor Erazo patiently read and edited all the iterations of my dissertation, helping me to strengthen my arguments and organize my thoughts. Both professors are role models to me; they have shown me how to persevere in the face of adversity, to be professional while balancing a career and family life, and push myself to become a stronger critical thinker. I aspire to be as motivated, hardworking, and successful as they are. Professor Gail Hollander has also been an integral part of the dissertation committee, stepping in at the last moment and joining the committee even though she had many other obligations. She provided insightful feedback during my proposal defense and had excellent suggestions, inspiring me to think about how commercial aquaculture is an agricultural activity. Professor Roderick Neumann also provided constructive feedback throughout the dissertation iv project and helped to ensure that my project was the best that it could be. I also want to thank him for writing many letters of recommendation for me over the years. Professor Aquaculture currently constitutes nearly half of global seafood production today.Due to this importance, and the attention such practices receive through funding and extension, many scholars have focused on the social impacts that aquaculture practices have on rural communities. In particular, scholars have investigated the effects of aquaculture on environmental conditions, food security, livelihoods, gender relations, and social conflict. However, more scholarship is needed concerning the historical legacies that have contributed to how aquaculture is promoted and practiced, particularly viii connections to the Green Revolution. Furthermore, there needs to be more research about commercial aquaculture as a post-disaster development strategy.