Livelihood functions of inland fisheries: policy implications in developing countries

Abstract

An improved analytical framework and typology of fishers are provided to improve understanding of the diverse livelihood functions of inland fishing in development policy making. Inland fisheries make an important but often neglected contribution to rural livelihoods in developing countries. A holistic and widely applicable analysis of the possible livelihood functions of such fisheries is presented, focusing on fishing as one activity within diverse livelihoods. Four different livelihood strategies are identified, involving fishing as: (i) a primary livelihood of last resort, (ii) part of a diversified semi-subsistence livelihood, (iii) a specialist occupation and (iv) part of a diversified accumulation strategy. The policy implications of these strategies are found to be differentiated and poorly represented in practice by socio-economic analysis that either undfervalues fisheries or treats them solely as livelihoods of last resort and by traditional approaches to fisheries management centred on stock conservation. The need for a more diverse and flexible range of measures, tailored to local priorities and conditions and ensuring that poor people can access the benefits of inland fisheries whilst achieving conservation objectives, is identified.

Sustainability and Land tenure: Who owns the floodplain in the Pantanal, Brazil?

“…Claims of overfishing, bushmeat overhunting or desertification are often not so much evidence-based conservation concerns, as narratives strategically deployed to impose the interests of the most powerful groups (Abbott and Campbell, 2009;Coad et al, 2013;Homewood, 1994). Historically misapplied narratives have often led to aggressive management interventions such as strong restrictions on the use of the natural resource or even physical displacement (Smith et al 2005;Kittinger et al 2013;Kolding and Van Zwieten 2014). Scientific knowledge offers one set of tools to deconstruct these narratives, giving empirical evidence to support or reject a specific claim.…”

Community-Based Technology Transfer in Rural Aquaculture: The Case of Mudcrab Scylla serrata Nursery in Ponds in Northern Samar, Central Philippines

“…But it needs good leadership and social preparation (e.g., value formation) of members to make it successful (Gutiérrez et al 2010;Primavera et al 2010;Petersen et al 2011). Own labor is the main asset and source of power of the poor households and the key determinant of household output, income, and food security when access to resources is a limiting factor for them (Smith et al 2005). Furthermore, engaging women's participation in the venture strengthens women position in the decision-making and control over family's income impacting on household food security and nutritional outcomes (Lewis 1998;Kawarazuka and Béné 2010).…”

“…Land ownership among coastal dwellers is nil that mangroves can be utilized for mangrove-friendly aquaculture for it is both compatible with mangroves and amenable to small-scale, family level operations (Primavera 1995). But institutions are critical in determining access rights of different groups over common resources like mangroves (Smith et al 2005). Co-management may be used as a strategy in allocating access rights to mangrove forest for efficient and equitable system in extracting and distributing resource rents (Pomeroy 1995).…”

Freedom and poverty in the fishery commons

“…But as demonstrated in both situations, the poverty of small-scale fishers typically involves a number of capability and entitlement deprivations that limit their freedom to improve their lives, including escaping the destiny that Hardin holds up for them. Therefore, as stressed by many of those who study small-scale fisheries, a richer model for defining, explaining, and dealing with poverty among smallscale fishers is called for (for example Macfadyen and Corocoran 2002;Béné 2003;Smith et al 2005;FAO 2006;Thorpe et al 2007;Béné and Friend 2009).…”