Poverty and Fisheries
Combating poverty is high on the agenda of governments and the international community. The World Bank's World Development Report 2000/2001 proposes a framework of actions to attack poverty built on three pillars:
All three pillars appear to be relevant both in reducing poverty in fishing communities and also in enhancing the contribution of the fisheries sector to overall poverty reduction.
- Promoting opportunity: expanding economic opportunity for poor people by stimulating overall growth and by building up the assets of poor people and increasing returns on these assets through a combination of market and non-market actions.
- Facilitating empowerment: making state institutions more accountable and responsive to poor people, strengthening the participation of poor people in political processes and local decision making and removing the social barriers that result from distinctions of gender, ethnicity, race and social status.
- Enhancing security: reducing poor people's vulnerability to ill health, economic shocks, policy- induced dislocations, natural disasters and violence, as well as helping them cope with adverse shocks when they occur.
All three pillars appear to be relevant both in reducing poverty in fishing communities and also in enhancing the contribution of the fisheries sector to overall poverty reduction.
In the fisheries sector there are currently many programmes addressing poverty by seeking to improve fisheries management in coastal and inland fisheries, develop rural and coastal aquaculture, improve safety at sea in small- scale fisheries, and others.
Several developing countries have instituted special programmes of assistance to coastal and inland fishing communities that encompass subsidies for fishing implements, soft loans, and various social welfare measures ranging from improved health services to better educational facilities and the provision of drinking water. Some fisheries development programmes such as the Bay of Bengal Programme and ALCOM have given special attention to gender issues.
In a number of developing countries, small- scale fishers and fishworkers have become better organized through the formation of unions and associations during the last two to three decades. The emergence and strengthening of several of these organizations have benefited from the activities of the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers. These organizations have been instrumental in defending the interests of their members (for example regarding the extent of foreign fishing activities in the EEZs of their countries).
Several developing countries have instituted special programmes of assistance to coastal and inland fishing communities that encompass subsidies for fishing implements, soft loans, and various social welfare measures ranging from improved health services to better educational facilities and the provision of drinking water. Some fisheries development programmes such as the Bay of Bengal Programme and ALCOM have given special attention to gender issues.
In a number of developing countries, small- scale fishers and fishworkers have become better organized through the formation of unions and associations during the last two to three decades. The emergence and strengthening of several of these organizations have benefited from the activities of the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers. These organizations have been instrumental in defending the interests of their members (for example regarding the extent of foreign fishing activities in the EEZs of their countries).
It is generally acknowledged that fishers and fishing communities are highly vulnerable to accidents, natural disasters and other shocks. Little is known, however, about the extent to which poverty in fisheries is a consequence of inadequate protection against such shocks and of deficient mechanisms to cope with them once they occur. Such knowledge would be important in deciding on the most effective actions and programmes to reduce vulnerability and improve coping mechanisms.