A. Selection of groups for group discussions and individuals for semi-structured interviews.
In each village, four groups were formed according to age and sex criteria:
In each group, focus group discussions were carried out following a semi-structured interview schedule, described below.
B. Topics covered by focus group discussions (FGD) and individual interviews in fishing and farming villages.
B.1. Subjects covered in fishing villages.
Changes in the geographic distribution and demographic situation of fisherfolk and their socioeconomic status over the past 20 years.
A selected number of fisherfolk were asked to assess, according to their knowledge and awareness, how their personal lives and the lives of other fisherfolk in their area had changed over the past 20 years with regard to: the number of fishers in the area;, the growth of their population; the extent of immigration and emigration in the communities; socioeconomic status; etc.. The assessment had to include an account of negative as well as positive changes.
Regarding socioeconomic status the following issues were assessed: ownership of main production factors, level and distribution of income, access to alternative income-earning activities, quality of housing, physical and social infrastructure and services, including health care and nutrition, family size and structure, preferred and actual age, contraceptive use, political participation and decision making at district/regional/village/household level, division of labour by gender and other issues were also addressed.
Changes in the number, type and quality of fishing gear, fish catches and fish-marketing over the past 20 years
The objective was to assess, as remembered by the fishers, what the changes were in the types of fishing craft and gear used in the past 20 years and how the number of fishing craft and gear changed during that period. Moreover, what were the reasons for the above changes according to fisherfolk? What were the changes in the species caught and what were the changes in the quantities caught? What were the changes in production costs and income of fishers and fish prices paid to fishers?
Changes in the level of exploitation of coastal resources, including fish resources and in the state of the coastal environment over the past 20 years.
The subject was to assess perceived changes in and underlying reasons of the level of exploitation of coastal resources, the fisheries and the state of the coastal environment.
Moreover, opinions on what local and national governments should and could do to control and sustain the coastal environment and fisheries resources.
B.2. Subjects covered in both fishing and farming villages.
Changes in perceptions regarding marriage, numbers of children and general social values and perspectives/outlook over the past 20 years.
Focus group members discussed about fertility related issues such as: changes in actual and perceived ideal age at marriage for men and women, actual and ideal number of children to have, attitudes and practice of modern and traditional family planning; changes in personal ambitions and prospects.
Changes in main occupations and occupational and socioeconomic status over the past 20 years.
Group members assessed change in general economic and social development and needs at the level of the community and households, including constraints as perceived by discussion group members. Moreover, the perceived changes in, reasons for and change in main occupations of household- members were assessed.
