The PovFish-book is available This book provides a global perspective, situating small-scale fisheries within the broad academic discourse on poverty, fisheries management and development. In-depth case studies from fifteen countries in Latin America, Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrate the enormously complex ecological, economic, social, cultural and political contexts of this sector. Conclusions for policy-making, formulated as a joint statement by the authors, argue that fisheries development, poverty alleviation, and resource management must be integrated within a comprehensive governance approach that also looks beyond fisheries. More information is available here. Principal objective and sub-goals This project aims to map out the effects that environmental insecurity and degradation has on poverty and food security and vice versa. We question how poverty can be alleviated while also maintaining a healthy eco-system and we will study how fishers in poor communities cope individually and collectively with maintaining sustainable livelihoods through periods of resource crisis. A particular focus will be on the institutions that exist at various levels and a particular focus will be on those that enable collective action. Especially we will investigate their capacity for poverty alleviation, resource stewardship, and empowerment of the poor. Although our main locus will be in the south where poverty in small-scale fisheries are most widespread, the management challenge is general and there are also relevant lessons from crises-ridden communities in the north.
Project summary
| Poverty Mosaics The first part presents the theoretical fundament of the studies, while the following three sections presents the case studies.
The case studies of Bangladesh, Tanzania, Poland, Ghana and India (marked with red colour in the map above) provide a broad understanding of the interrelation between poverty and fisheries. The case studies of Mexico, Turkey, Malawi, Nicaragua and Thailand (blue colour) present coping strategies and the final case studies of Vietnam, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Mozambique and Guatemala (green colour) contribute by pointing at the possibilities of change from poverty to wealth creation.
The Tanzania Video As a part of the Tanzanian case study Paul Onyango made a film describing people, activities and concern in the fishing village he is referring to in chapter 6 in the PovFish book. |
Unravelling the Vicious Circle |