Governance in a small-scale fishery: Local responses and external pressures in Kerala, India.

摘要

The objectives of this thesis reflect an attempt to understand local-level realities of small-scale fisheries while exploring the impacts of change. They were: (1) to examine resource use and livelihood activities in the fishery; (2) study local level institutions and governance structures, including local rules and property rights regimes that govern resource use in the fishery; and (3) evaluate findings in terms of policy-level discussions on the potential for co-management.; These objectives were addressed primarily through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and focus groups with fishers. The focus of the research was on the island of Vallarpadam in the Cochin area of central Kerala, India. The fishing caste community engaged in unlicensed stake net fishing represented the primary research group, and the bulk of interviews were conducted with fishers, vendors and marketers. Interviews were also conducted with state and caste organization officials. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)