Abstract
AbstractThe UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) principle of “leaving no one behind” focuses global attention on the poorest and most vulnerable people. As different sectors grapple to engage meaningfully with this principle, we posit that greater consideration of social problems in fishing‐dependent communities, such as alcoholism and domestic violence, presents an opportunity for fishery governors to contribute to the SDGs mandate. We further argue that governing marine resources in ignorance of these problems can risk harming some of the most vulnerable people in fisheries. Using subjective well‐being data from women living in two small‐scale fishing communities in India and Sri Lanka, we demonstrate the prevalence and impact of alcoholism and domestic violence in fishing households. We further highlight how policies which restrict access to marine resources can undermine important coping strategies, in particular, the ability of women to act as independent income earners, exacerbating harm to already vulnerable women. A scoping review of the literature reveals that alcoholism and domestic violence are reported in certain fisheries around the world, and we theorize how this may relate to the nature of fishing life and growing stresses regarding the future of fishing. Tackling the burdens of alcoholism and domestic violence in fisheries, where it is an issue, is an opportunity to improve well‐being for men, women and their families. The paper concludes with tangible actions which marine resource governors could adopt to contribute to the “leave no one behind” ethos.
Highlights
The principle of “leave no one behind,” which underpins the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, is built on global recognition that ending extreme poverty and reducing inequalities require the prioritization of actions benefiting the poorest and most marginalized people (Stuart & Samman, 2017)
This article has provided evidence from South Asia which illustrate some of the unforeseen and unexpected implications of marine conservation for vulnerable groups such as women living with alcoholism and domestic violence in their lives
Our discussion of well-being amongst women in fishing communities in South Asia forms an empirical contribution to a growing theoretical debate as to the potential usefulness of a social well-being approach to marine resource management, in particular for assessing social impacts (Coulthard et al, 2014), and for managing environmental change in general (Agarwala et al, 2014; Lange, Woodhouse, & Milner-Gulland, 2016; Milner-Gulland et al, 2014)
Summary
The principle of “leave no one behind,” which underpins the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, is built on global recognition that ending extreme poverty and reducing inequalities require the prioritization of actions benefiting the poorest and most marginalized people (Stuart & Samman, 2017). Drawing on a social well-being methodology, this paper begins by presenting empirical evidence which demonstrates the particular importance of good marital relations in women's self-assessments of well-being, and the significance of alcoholism and domestic violence on women living and working in fishing communities in Sri Lanka and India.
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