Abstract
Aquatic resources contribute to economic growth, food security, and the livelihoods of millions of fishers around the world. This is evidenced by the industrialization of capture fisheries in the twentieth century, which has generated enormous wealth. Rather than supporting a policy aimed at maximizing economic efficiency though, this chapter argues for the distribution of wealth among small-scale fishers. After all, the small-scale fisheries function as a safety valve for a host of rural poor, for whom alternative livelihoods are not available.
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Notes
- 1.
The industrialization of capture fisheries (Platteau 1989; Thorpe and Bennett 2001; Bavinck 2011) that took place during the twentieth century had two phases. Phase 1 commenced late in the nineteenth century and was centered in Europe, North America, and Japan. Post-colonial governments initiated phase 2 in the period after WWII. The technologies in both phases were identical, and consisted of engine-driven harvesting technology, new gear types, refrigeration, and large-scale infrastructure (such as harbors). Markets developed alongside increases in production, with most landing sites now being connected to national and international markets.
- 2.
There are no figures for the period before 1970, which constitutes the nucleus of the industrialization era, and is therefore likely to have created the largest impact on employment too. Similar to global catch data, which are regularly disputed, employment figures are also imprecise (FAO 1999). The figures in Table 2.1, however, appear at least to indicate a general trend.
- 3.
The stabilization that has apparently taken place in the fishing population from 2000 to 2005 (see Table 2.1) suggests that capital is also substituting for labor at a higher rate in developing countries. However, this requires further investigation.
- 4.
Low and declining employment figures in the fisheries of the North do not indicate a marginal role in global fisheries. FAO (2009, Table 7) points out, for example, that production per person in Europe and North America is eight to ten times the production rate in Asia and Africa.
- 5.
It is important in this regard to reiterate that solutions to prevent or reduce poverty in fisheries in developing countries also need to be found outside the sector, where alternative employment is to be created for those who have sought in fisheries an employer of last resort (Cunningham 1999).
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Eide, A., Bavinck, M., Raakjær, J. (2011). Avoiding Poverty: Distributing Wealth in Fisheries. In: Jentoft, S., Eide, A. (eds) Poverty Mosaics: Realities and Prospects in Small-Scale Fisheries. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1582-0_2
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