8. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR CONCERNING FAMILY FORMATION AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

By A. Marcoux

Introduction

This chapter examines the relationship between the attitudes and behaviour of male and female fisherfolk concerning marriage, fertility and contraception, and changes in fisheries resources and the coastal environment. The question was: Do people who show greater sensitivity and concern for environmental issues, also have different views on marriage and fertility practices?

Specifically, we examine how the respondents' views on the appropriate age of marriage for women and men, the number of children they wish to have, and the knowledge and use of family planning methods were related to:

• the perception of a link between the state of natural resources and their welfare and number of children;
• the awareness of a decline in fisheries resources;
• the awareness of environmental pollution;
• the awareness of a need for protection of natural resources;
• personal activity to preserve/improve resources and the environment.

Perceived ideal age of marriage for women and men

The first survey was to determine a possible association between individual views on the appropriate age of marriage — males and females — and opinions on environmental issues. The survey was carried out in four countries: the Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Senegal. Regarding environmental awareness and concern, respondents were classified according to whether they agreed or not that: jobs, natural resources and human fertility were related; there has been a decline in fish catches; there has been a decline in the quality of seawater; there is a need for measures to regulate fishing gear. They were also asked if they had personally taken steps to protect local resources (see tables 48 to 52 below).

Table 48 - Average declared appropriate age of marriage for males and females, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that population, resources and employment are related

Table 49 - Average declared appropriate age of marriage for males and females, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that fish catch decreased owing to increasing numbers of fishers and boats

Table 50 - Average declared appropriate age of marriage for males and females, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that the quality of seawater deteriorated because of pollution

Table 51 - Average declared appropriate age of marriage for males and females, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that measures should be taken to regulate fishing gear

Table 52 - Average declared appropriate age of marriage for males and females, by respondents' record of having personally taken or not taken steps to contribute to resource protection

It was expected that individuals more concerned with environmental issues would choose an older appropriate age for marriage, however, such an association was not observed:

• In all but a few instances, the differences between the average age at marriage indicated by the two categories of respondents were minimal - generally much smaller than the standard deviation of response with respect to the said average.
• In addition, in more than half of the instances, the result was of the counter-intuitive type, suggesting that opinions on age at marriage were influenced by much more powerful factors than one's views of local natural resources.

The differences between the countries were clear. The age of marriage deemed appropriate for males was markedly higher in the Philippines and Bangladesh (usually 25–27) than in India and Senegal (usually 22–23). The age for females was lower than for males in all instances, but the difference is much smaller in the Philippines and India (usually three to five years) than in Bangladesh and Senegal (usually six to 10 years).

Desired number of children

The same survey was carried out on the respondents' declarations concerning the number of children they personally desired: see tables 53–57 below. No correlation can be found between the degree of awareness of environmental issues and their relationship with population dynamics (or of personal concern) and the preference for larger or smaller families.

Table 53 - Average desired number of children, by respondents' opinion on the proposition that population, resources and employment were related

Table 54 - Average desired number of children, by respondents' opinion on the proposition that fish catch decreased owing to increasing numbers of fishers and boats

Table 55 - Average desired number of children, by respondents' opinion on the proposition that the quality of seawater deteriorated owing to pollution

Table 56 - Average desired number of children, by respondents' opinion on the proposition that measures should be taken to regulate fishing gear

Table 57 - Average desired number of children, by respondents' record of having taken or not personal steps to contribute to resource protection

The purpose to verify whether or not environmental concerns linked to population change translated into individual demographic behaviour, i.e. whether or not respondents showing more awareness or The purpose to verify whether or not environmental concerns linked to population change translated into individual demographic behaviour, i.e. whether or not respondents showing more awareness or concern desired fewer children. This proved not to be the case: a difference is observed in about half of the instances, and the opposite in the other half.

Therefore it is clear that desired family size is influenced by much stronger factors than attitudes on environmental matters.

Use of family planning methods

A similar search was performed on the respondents' declarations as to whether they were using a family planning method at the time of the interview: see table 58–61 below.

Table 58 - Percentage practicing family planning, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that fish catch decreased owing to increasing numbers of fishers and boats

Table 59 - Percentage practicing family planning, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that the quality of seawater deteriorated owing to pollution

Table 60 - Percentage practicing family planning, by respondents' opinion of the proposition that measures should be taken to regulate fishing gear

Table 61 - Percentage practicing family planning, by respondents' record of having taken or not personal steps to contribute to resource protection

The results confirm the preceding observations. The differences in family planning practices between categories of respondents (“more” or “less” aware/concerned) were large, but they occurred in both directions with similar frequency - i.e. a large percentage of people using contraceptive methods may be found among concerned, as well as unconcerned respondents.

Again, the decision to practice family planning and the assiduity of practice must be primarily dependent on an entirely different set of variables than those regarding fisherfolk's attitudes towards their natural resources and environment.