The six national reports give an informative view of the diversity of groups of users of artisanal fisheries resources. In each country six to seven major livelihood groups have been defined. Taking into account the diversity of actors involved and their interests. Characterization of the different groups focused on the following factors:
identification of major groups and characteristics/ key strategies;
analysis of the livelihood opportunities (capital) and constraints related to them;
vulnerability of groups;
gender differences;
organizational level of various SLs.
The detailed analysis of these groups and their vulnerability context are presented in the six national reports. Here, we present an overview of characteristics of the groups found in almost all the countries (Table 1). Box 1 gives an example of characteristics of two groups of livelihoods in Guinea: fishermen and processors. They show the difference or diversities in characteristics, constraints or strategies.
The results on the livelihood groups show the importance of fishery research taking into account all the categories of actors acting both upstream and downstream. This enables a response to the specific constraints and increased impact on all the groups involved: fishers, wholesale fish merchants, boat owners, processors, service providers etc.
Table 1: Synthesis: Some livelihood groups in artisanal fisheries
SL Group |
Main Characteristics |
Key Gender issues |
Key strategies |
Major constraints relating to capital |
Key vulnerability factors |
Observations |
Fishers |
(a) Do not own fishing gear. |
(a) Groups consisting mainly of men (at least 80%). |
(a) Are very mobile and follow the movement of the resource
(migration). |
(a) Certain fisheries resources are endangered (diminishing
resources). |
(a) Frequent disputes between industrial and artisanal
fishermen (non-respect for zones). |
(a) These groups are relatively well organized (professional organizations). |
Wholesale fish sellers |
(a) Derive most of their income from fish selling. |
(a) Groups comprise men and women in different proportions
depending on the country: |
(a) Include smoking activities in some cases. |
(a) Illiteracy. |
(a) Landlocked zones of fishing activities especially in the
winter period. |
|
Processors |
(a) Own processing equipment. |
(a) Group comprises mainly women (98%). |
(a) Often on the fish seller circuit. |
(a) Fishery resources threatened by over-exploitation
(diminishing resource). |
(a) Seasonal disappearance of the resource to be
processed. |
(a) Groups more often than not well organized and structured. |
Ship owners |
(a) Own fishing gear. |
(a) Group comprising mostly men (90%). |
(a) Migrate with crews in order to better supervise
activities. |
(a) Fisheries resources threatened by overexploitation. |
(a) Disputes between artisanal and industrial
fishermen. |
(a) These groups are often well-organized (professional organizations). |
Mechanics |
(a) Work exclusively on the engines and outboard
motors. |
(a) Groups made up of men. |
(a) Set up mainly on larger jetties. |
(a) Low level of qualification for some
(professionalisation). |
(a) Scarcity and high costs of motors and spare parts
following State disengagement from import circuits. |
|
Boat Builders |
(a) Build and repair boats. |
(a) Groups exclusively comprising men. |
(a) Have other activities (agriculture, petty
trading...). |
(a) Some forestry resources endangered by
over-exploitation. |
(a) Deforestation accompanied by reduced wood
resources. |
(a) Groups more often not well organized and structured. |
Net makers |
(a) Produce and repair nets. |
(a) Groups comprise mainly men. |
(a) Have other activities (agriculture, petty
trading...) |
|
(a) Reduction in the resource and fishing activities at certain times of the year (lower demand for maintenance). |
|
Box 1: Fishers and fish processors in Guinea Fishers Main Characteristics
Key Strategies
Major constraints related to capital
Vulnerability
Fish Processors Main characteristics
Key Strategies
Major constraints related to capitals
Vulnerability
Source: Guinea national report |
The following findings emerge from the analysis of national reports:
in order to initiate a response to the needs of the various groups it is first of all necessary that the research take account of the great diversity of SL groups depending on fishery resources and the specific constraints which affect each of them;
there is a similar diversity of SL groups existing in areas of maritime and inland fishing (see the reports from Nigeria and Mali where the two types of fishing are present);
almost everywhere across the board it appears that fishermen exercise other income-generating activities to diversify their livelihoods (e.g. agriculture, net production, petty trading)
access to SLs by different groups largely depends on capacities, assets and the financial status of the individuals concerned (the obstacles to access the resources are not always clear-cut);
some groups are dominated either by women or by men: for example, apart from a few exceptions, most of the fishermen are men while the processing (smoking for example) is dominated by women; it is the men who have a greater tendency to control the more lucrative activities (e.g. offshore fishing on a larger scale), but this is not always the case. (see Box 2)
all the SL groups have little ability to influence national policies, given the weak links between formal institutions involved in the development of fisheries policies at the macro level and the local population;
national reports demonstrate the difficulty and the complexity of analysing vulnerability factors: vulnerable groups vary depending on context but in Cameroon and Nigeria the fishermen were identified as being relatively more vulnerable due to numerous factors (e.g. seasonal character of fishing, overexploitation of resources and fall in yields, fluctuations in prices of inputs and limited access to credit, changes in macro-economic policies, insecurity, thefts, communal disputes, police harassment and risk of loss of life at sea).
Box 2: Gender issues in artisanal fishing in Nigeria In Nigeria, the predominance of women or men in an SL group normally depends on several factors:
A lot of work and tasks are distributed on gender basis. Men dominate the following groups: fishers, mechanics, boat builders, and trade in equipment. Women often control the following: processing/conservation of fish products (smoking, drying etc.), the fish trade in those places where there are no socio-economic constraints and net production; they are also involved in inland fisheries. It is also to be observed that there is a general distribution between inland fisheries that is dominated by women and offshore activities that are the exclusive preserve of the men. This distribution can be explained by maternal responsibilities of women and the danger and loss of life often recorded at sea. This distribution of work has economic consequences. Whereas the capital costs for maritime fishing are high, the profits made are much more substantial than for river fishing. Source: National Report, Nigeria |
The Nigerian team made an interesting attempt at analysing vulnerability costs for each SL group. The usefulness of the innovative methodology proposed merits for further consideration in future research work (see Box 3).
Box 3: Vulnerability costing for artisanal fishing SL groups: Example of fishers The vulnerability costs of the fishermen threatened by trawlers are calculated bearing in mind the following factors:
The cost of capital is obtained by multiplying the average number of nets destroyed by trawlers in one fishing season by the average cost of a net and the number of fishing communities on the coast threatened by the trawlers. The loss of income is determined by the product of the value of fish caught on each trip and the average number of trips per fisher per month per community. Thus, for this SL group, vulnerability in terms of the cost of capital is estimated at about 18,495,000 Nigerian Naira. The vulnerability in terms of loss of income is estimated to be between 34 and 46 million Naira. Source: Nigeria national report; 1US$ = 119.50 Naira |