Livelihood strategies of two small-scale fisher communities: adaptation strategies under different fishery resource at southern and northern coast of Java

Abstract

Small-scale fishers are frequently exposed to a variety of hazards that threaten their livelihood. Different socio-cultural, natural resource, environment conditions potentially create unique vulnerability and livelihood strategies which may exist in different places. Therefore, an investigation in two different fishing communities was carried out to understand the similarities and different of livelihood strategy works in both places. The study was conducted in two small scale fisheries community in village Betahlawang (north of java) and Glagah (south of Java). This research aims to describe livelihood aspects and strategies of fisher communities in both locations under different fishery resource and their dependency on the fishery through systematic surveys. The study showed that both communities are highly dependent on natural capital which mainly the abundance of the fishery resources. Others factors affecting both communities’ sustainable livelihood are the uncertainty in catch, weather and policy, limited capital ownership, access, and knowledge and skills other than fishing. Although the two study sites share some capital similarities, the livelihood vulnerability and their strategy is different. Betahlawang fishers more vulnerable than Glagah fishers because Glagah fishers has more diverse livelihood alternatives.