A new paper on Fish Traders as Key Actors in Fisheries
A paper Fish Traders as Key Actors in Fisheries: Gender and Adaptive Management by Sara Frocklin, Maricela de la Torre-Castro, Lars Lindstrom, and Narriman S. Jiddawi, was recently published in the Ambio. Its abstract is attached below:
This paper fills an important gap towards adaptive management of small-scale fisheries by analysing the gender dimension of fish trade in Zanzibar, Tanzania. We hypothesize that gender-based differences are present in the fish value chain and to test the hypothesis interviews were performed to analyze: (i) markets, customers, and mobility, (ii) material and economic resources, (iii) traded fish species, (iv) contacts and organizations, and (v) perceptions and experiences. Additionally, management documents were analyzed to examine the degree to which gender is considered. Results show that women traders had less access to social and economic resources, profitable markets, and high-value fish, which resulted in lower income. These gender inequalities are linked, among others, to women’s reproductive roles such as childcare and household responsibilities. Formal fisheries management was found to be gender insensitive, showing how a crucial feedback element of adaptive management is missing in Zanzibar’s management system, i.e., knowledge about key actors, their needs and challenges.
Full citation: Frocklin, S., M. de la Torre-Castro, L. Lindstrom, and N.S. Jiddawi 2013. Fish Traders as Key Actors in Fisheries: Gender and Adaptive Management. Ambio 42: 951–962. DOI 10.1007/s13280-013-0451-1