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Shrimp trawling represents an important fishing metier in South India, generating high levels of employment and economic value. It is also a contested metier, ostensibly contributing to environmental degradation and social inequality. This paper investigates the job satisfaction of crew members (captains and workers) on board the shrimp trawlers of Chennai (former Madras). Research took place in 2007 and 2008 (N = 137). Results suggest a general satisfaction with being in the fishery. However, a little over three-fifths of fishers said they would be willing to change fishing metier and about one-half said they would leave the occupation. About one-half also said they would not advise a young person to enter the occupation. The tendency to move away from the fishery is argued to reflect a growing pessimism about the future of the shrimp trawl fisheries, but also an increasing awareness of other economic opportunities. (Contains 2 figures and 16 tables.)

This article draws comparative lessons from seven job satisfaction studies on marine capture fishing that were recently carried out in nine countries and three geographical regions--Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. The seven studies made use of an identical job satisfaction assessment tool and present information on a selection of metiers mainly in the small-scale and semi-industrial fishing sectors. The responses manifest statistically significant geographical variation. Multidimensional plots and cluster analyses lead the authors to identify three clusters: (1) Southeast Asian (Vietnam and Thailand); (2) Caribbean (Belize, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic) and (3) Afro-Indian (Senegal, Guinea Bissau, and India). Jamaica is a significant outlier. On a general level, the authors conclude that fishers who report that they are not interested in leaving the occupation of fishing score higher on three traditional job satisfaction scales--basic needs, social needs and self actualization. Those who say they would leave fishing for another occupation are younger, have less fishing experience and smaller households. The latter findings are of relevance with regard to the pressing need, felt by fisheries managers, to move fishers out of the fishery. (Contains 6 figures and 11 tables.)

This paper presents a case study of the small-scale fisheries of Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts in Tamil Nadu, India, showing the relevance of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The SSF Guidelines refer to the need to enhance the capacity of small-scale fishing communities in order to enable them to participate in decision-making and organizational development. CSOs representing small-scale fishers and fishworkers played a key role in the development of the SSF Guidelines and, with regard to implementation, they should remain the main drivers of change. The study covered four major types of institutions: traditional village councils, cooperatives, self-help groups and Non-governmental Organizations. While all four types occupy their own niche in the fisheries environment, the study shows that the village councils (or ur panchayats) are the most significant institution for small-scale fisheries (although others can play important roles as well). The study also identifies important actions taken, including strengthening small-scale fishers' opportunities to market their catches for fair prices, ensuring equitable access to tsunami relief and rehabilitation, and defending the coastal area and traditional tenure rights. The authors note that local CSO action needs to be linked to larger national initiatives when issues are complex and cannot be resolved merely by local action. This is of great importance in a large federal nation like India where decision-making takes place at different scale levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BUSBY, CECILIA. The performance of gender: an anthropology of everyday life in a South Indian fishing village. xviii, 262 pp., bibliogr. London, New Brunswick, N.J.: The Athlone Press, 2000. £47.50 [...]