WOMEN IN ARTISANAL FISHERIES CLUSTERS

Women in Artisanal Fisheries clusters



The fisheries sector

General

The fisheries sector is of strategic importance in the economic development. Indeed, it constitutes the main natural resource of the countries. On the one hand, it represents a source of income for much of the population and, secondly, it is a major factor in the food balance of the country. Technical change in fishery industry has conventionally been seen as involving two main activities: first, the initial commercialization and development of Significant innovations; second, the wider progressively made application of these innovations in a process (Bell, 1993, Pp.157-210).

It is generally considered that 90% of the artisanal fisheries are consumed locally. The sector also contributes significantly to the balance of trade through exports. Several studies have found that between 50-70% of the value of exports is fish products (Paulo, 2002, pp.73-94).

Economical aspects:

It is estimated that 80% of the production distribution of artisanal fisheries are made ??by women traveling on foot or by taxi. Some reports indicate that an artisanal fishery directly supports an estimated population of 26,500 people and create about 2000 jobs downstream. Small-scale fisheries are presented as a sub-sector, socially and economically marginalized for the following reasons:

Fishermen live in isolated groups (socially and / or geographically) with little inter-relationship with the rest of the population - (75 communities scattered across the country)

They receive little assistance from the administration and have little access to public services

Their length, the barrier to growth, their production and bottlenecks in production and marketing, and lack of energizing factors such as the intake of outside capital to invest, make a sub-sector stagnant

Environmental artisan fisherman is little known or little understood, so the opportunities for government institutions have taken on them are limited.

The profession of fish vendors is seen as a low-level activity.

Efforts have been made ??to improve living conditions in these communities. Various projects have emerged to find solutions to various constraints. In addition the state has tried to improve socio-sanitary conditions. The people of these communities have access to social services and health fairly regularly, at least on a weekly basis. The majority of children are attending primary school in these communities. .

However, much remains to be done to promote "self esteem", confidence and creativity of people and promote their actions (Paulo, 2002, pp.73-94). Indeed, the mission noted for example that little information was available on communities and on women in particular. In the structures responsible for fisheries, priority actions have been given to technical aspects and people who do not receive different inputs or participate in any activity that make this sector an important sector for the country. 

Artisanal fisheries: a regional economic and social issue Economical key elements to highlight:

The contribution of the sector in the supply of animal protein populations.

Very small-scale fisheries, marine and continental provides, often essential, basic production for home consumption (data rarely taken into account in national accounts) and provides more than half of the fishes that are sold in markets Regions.

The scarcity: competition between fishing fleets and foreign. Consequence: security issue of artisanal fishermen

Urgency of self-regulation in ...