Interplay Between Local and Global: Change Processes and Small-Scale Fisheries

Abstract

Important but neglected, small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable to a range of direct challenges, despite long-standing recognition of their multiple contributions to the economy and society. Global drivers contribute to vulnerabilities at local and regional levels, creating adverse changes, but these changes in turn may act as drivers that impact sustainability at higher levels. Thus, global drivers, and local and regional drivers can potentially impact each other in a two-way process. In this chapter, we discuss the interplay between local and global to explore the realities of small-scale fisheries. We use two empirical cases from the Bay of Bengal, east coast of India, to focus on (1) vulnerabilities experienced by small-scale fisheries, and (2) their existing strengths. We discuss possible strategies that can be used to build on the strengths of small-scale fisheries to counter the various vulnerabilities they face. Vulnerability is seen as a multidimensional, complex, highly dynamic, and relative concept, the study of which is highly inter- and trans-disciplinary. To this effect, we take a three-dimensional view of vulnerability that includes wellbeing, capitals, and resilience as measures to understand it, and provide a preliminary framework to help articulate viability in the context of small-scale fisheries. Given the complexity associated with global change drivers, small-scale fisheries will continue to remain vulnerable; however, we emphasise that they also have certain strengths. Identifying these strengths and building on them for long-term viability is an option that has not been fully explored.