Reconceptualizing coastal fisheries conflicts: A Swedish case study

• Fisheries conflicts have often been interpreted as arising from disputes over access to fish. Competition for fishing stocks among resources users (human and non-human) and fisheries managers’ attempts to control access to fish are depicted as main causes of conflicts. From this perspective, rampant environmental degradation, climate change and a growing human population will only exacerbate tensions in fisheries. Yet is it only competition for fish that drives conflicts? Research on coastal and small-scale fishers has shown that they fish not only to achieve economic (material) goals but also to fulfill social and immaterial needs. Drawing on Burton’s theory of human needs, in this exploratory study we consider how attention to coastal fishers’ material and immaterial needs might illuminate aspects of fisheries disagreements that are missed when conflicts are theorized solely in terms of material interests. Our data comes from 46 voluntary written statements provided at the end of a self-administered multiple-choice survey on the fishing sector sent to all holders of a Swedish commercial fishing license in June 2019. Results suggest that coastal fisheries conflicts are not solely about access to fish but also about social and emotional needs for respect, identity, belongingness, and status. We argue that an overemphasis on material needs may divert attention away from other causes of tension and thus prevent actions that could alleviate or mitigate fisheries conflicts.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialantropologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Anthropology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

theory of human needs

natural resources

material and immaterial needs

fisheries managers

coastal fishers

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)