Demographic change in coastal fishing communities and its implications for the coastal environment
Increase in the number of fishers as a result of population growth and migration to coastal fishing communities can be a contributing factor in the overexploitation of local fisheries resources and deterioration of the coastal environment. Better understanding the demographic and social dynamics of coastal fishing communities will help develop policies to achieve a sustainable use and conservation of fisheries resources and the coastal environment. Contributing to that effort was the goal of a UNFPA-FAO project, “Strengthening of research and training on population and development dynamics of rural fishing communities”. Contrary to the assumed global trend, the number of coastal fishers has started to decline or stagnate in four of the countries studied, while it is still increasing, although more slowly, in the other two. Also contrary to other reports, levels of fertility and infant mortality in fishing communities were found not to be much higher than those in farming communities. However, adult mortality data seem to indicating that living and health conditions in fishing communities could be worse than average, in particular for women. The investigations into occupational change within and between generations suggest that artisanal fisheries no longer are a “last resort employment” for people in some coastal areas. Artisanal fisheries are one of a number of income-earning opportunities, including some outside the fisheries sector. In a number of countries, government policies aim at a reduction or limitation of fishing effort and at conservation or rehabilitation of fisheries resources. Such policies affect the options of households in coastal areas regarding income opportunities. Such policies may force fisherfolk households out of their traditional main occupation. Fisherfolk are generally aware of the decline of fisheries resources and the deterioration of the coastal environment. They are also aware that an increase in their numbers has contributed to the present state of affairs, together with the intrusion of industrial fisheries in coastal waters and with industrial pollution. Fisherfolk in the villages studied see an urgent need to introduce effective policies and measures for the management and conservation of fisheries resources and coastal environment and are keen to participate in their implementation. A transition in attitudes regarding both family formation and future livelihoods is visible among the younger generations. A modernization of marriage and fertility norms is under way. As for fisheries, like farming they are no longer seen as a promising long-term option. In a policy perspective, needs for proper information on sociodemographic characteristics and trends were identified to enable designing more relevant interventions both in the fisheries domain and in the population one. Project findings will be used at country level to enrich training in fisheries policy analysis with topics related to population dimensions and relevant information and materials.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
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Rome (Italy) FAO
2000
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| Subjects: | COASTAL FISHERIES, FISHERMEN, SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, DEMOGRAPHY, POPULATION DYNAMICS, FISHERY RESOURCES, AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY SIZE, RESSOURCE HALIEUTIQUE, MILIEU AQUATIQUE, EMPLOI, TAILLE DE LA FAMILLE, PECHE COTIERE, PECHEUR, ENVIRONNEMENT SOCIOECONOMIQUE, DEMOGRAPHIE, DYNAMIQUE DES POPULATIONS, RECURSOS PESQUEROS, AMBIENTE ACUATICO, EMPLEO, TAMANO DE LA FAMILIA, PESCA COSTERA, PESCADORES, ENTORNO SOCIOECONOMICO, DEMOGRAFIA, DINAMICA DE POBLACIONES, |
| Online Access: | http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/X8294E/X8294E00.HTM |
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