Small-Scale Fisheries and the Global Fisheries Crisis: A Capabilities Approach

Abstract

Considering the threat of environmental degradation to fisher livelihoods and wellbeing, this paper focuses on the following questions: 1) How should the wellbeing of small-scale fisherfolk, as derived from their livelihoods as fishers, be understood and promoted in response to the global fisheries crisis? This will be referred to as the "wellbeing question" throughout the paper. 2) What should be done if a tradeoff between different aspects of fisher wellbeing, such as different capabilities, is in fact necessary? This is referred to as the "tragic choice question." In order to give due consideration to the many aspects of the overall wellbeing of fisherfolk, this paper argues for the use of a capabilities approach for understanding the threats of environmental degradation to the wellbeing of small-scale fishers and ensuring that fisherfolk have access to a good quality of life. In its final section, it offers a recommendation for co-management as a possible means of addressing the issues of environmental degradation in a way that upholds the autonomy and capabilities of those involved in small-scale fisheries, particularly as they may face situations of "Tragic Choice" (Nussbaum 2011). [From introductory section]