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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open
Journal article
Wicked problem of improving fishery livelihoods through capacity building
Marine policy, Vol.163, 106108
05/2024
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Abstract
Development programs can train fishers in value-adding but factors influencing who is likely to benefit are not well understood. Small-scale fishers worldwide often fall short increasing the value of their catch and wellbeing benefits from their harvests. Here, we sought to improve technical capacity of sea cucumber fishers in postharvest processing and examine intrinsic and extrinsic factors that shape long-term livelihood impacts. Manuals, videos and village-based workshops were used to train hundreds of fishers in 29 villages across seven island regions in Fiji. Our linear mixed models found that trained fishers spent more time processing their catch and were more likely to report increased sale prices. However, the fishery was in decline and so fishers’ weekly incomes did not improve overall. The capacity building led to gender-transformative outcomes by motivating women to increase catch rates and it improved their weekly fishery income. Perceived changes in trading prices and economic dependence on the fishery varied regionally, implying inconsistent trader behaviour. Our study reveals that improving fishery livelihoods can be a “wicked problem” involving a complexity of external factors that hinder livelihood impacts. Capacity-building of fishers was insufficient on its own to markedly improve wellbeing. Income also depended on the fishery stocks, equitable behaviour of traders and access of fishers to raw materials for postharvest processing. Development programs should consider a holistic approach through partnerships with institutions to improve the management of natural resources, value chains and technical capacity of fishers.
Details
- Title
- Wicked problem of improving fishery livelihoods through capacity building
- Creators
- Steven W. Purcell - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreAlejandro Tagliafico - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreBrian R. Cullis - University of WollongongNicole Cocks - University of Wollongong
- Publication Details
- Marine policy, Vol.163, 106108
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013174812602368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article