Beyond fish as commodities: Understanding the socio-cultural role of inshore fisheries in England

Matt Reed,Paul Courtney,Natalie Ross,Julie Urquhart

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.04.009

Matt Reed, Paul Courtney + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.04.009

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Abstract

Inshore fishing, by boats under 10 m, has a long tradition on the coasts of England but its role in the contemporary communities is not well understood, and increasingly policy makers have become focused on trying to find ways to improve its environmental, social and ecological sustainability. This paper reports on a research project that sought, through case studies on the English coast, to explore the socio-cultural role that inshore fishing plays and how policies could be developed to enhance its contributions. Inshore fishing was found to be highly valued not only for its importance in supporting livelihoods, but also in the creation of place identities tied to fishing as an occupation and the ecological opportunities for fishing that are available at the different localities. Findings are discussed in the context of harnessing these attributes for fostering sustainable fishing communities, underpinned by strengthening the ties between the catch and the locality.

Highlights

Interpreted in a certain way contemporary biology is, somehow, a philosophy of life. [1:319]American neo-‐liberalism seeks rather to extend the rationality of the market, the schemes of analysis it proposes, and the decision making criteria it suggests to areas that are not exclusively or not primarily economic [2:79].In a paper in Science John Beddington and his colleagues considered the challenges being faced by fisheries and how there are successful examples of management from a range of international contexts, their contribution typifying many discourses that have become common in the discussion of fisheries [3]
Our findings show that while inshore fishing is not defended as a vital part of the local economy, local people value it for its social and cultural contribution to the community
In part this stems from a view that fishing creates a sense of place that is valued as part of the creation of self and community identity by resident, with an awareness that this identity is, in part, traded upon in the creation of seaside tourism [31]

Summary

Introduction

Interpreted in a certain way contemporary biology is, somehow, a philosophy of life. [1:319]American neo-‐liberalism seeks rather to extend the rationality of the market, the schemes of analysis it proposes, and the decision making criteria it suggests to areas that are not exclusively or not primarily economic [2:79].In a paper in Science John Beddington and his colleagues considered the challenges being faced by fisheries and how there are successful examples of management from a range of international contexts, their contribution typifying many discourses that have become common in the discussion of fisheries [3]. Fishermen are seen as being controlled by economic incentives based on allocated rights and in need of a strong authority capable of constraining their efforts These suggestions are characterised by neo-‐liberal ideas whereby conservation can be assured through regulating the activities of fishermen who have rights to common property in order to create a market in which fish are correctly valued and thereby conservation will be attained, backed up by robust sanctions if needs be. These sanctions have become the locus of contemporary fishing policy

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