Book chapter
Feeling the Pinch: Perceived Marginalization of Small-Scale Commercial Crab Fishers by an Expanding Recreational Sector
Blue Justice, pp.295-314
MARE Publication Series, Springer International Publishing
2022
Abstract
Human dimensions are increasingly recognized as a key element of fisheries globally. Information on human dimensions, particularly in the context of governance and social justice, is often lacking. Social justice includes the principles of fairness and equal opportunity, and is central for the governance of natural resources such as fisheries. Currently, no information on social justice has been collected for any Australian fishery. The blue swimmer crab (Portunus armatus) fishery is multisector and iconic, particularly in southwestern Australia, where an estimated 100,000 recreational fishers target this species but only seven small-scale commercial operators are active. This study used face-to-face and online surveys to explore commercial fishers’ concerns through the lens of the three orders of social justice (see Chap. 2 of this volume). Results indicate concerns regarding: (i) a lack of local community support for commercial fisheries and marginalization by the numerically dominant recreational sector (first order); (ii) the inequity of regulations processes that influenced fisheries management (second order) which were seen as promoting recreational over commercial fishing; (iii) a contrast between the prioritization of purchasing local seafood and the lack of support for the local commercial fishing sector (third order). This suggests that recreational fishers miss the link between the values and norms associated with purchasing local seafood products and support for the local fishing industry extracting them. Small-scale commercial fishers are concerned about the future of their industry as they feel pressured from the larger recreational sector and feel that the broader community does not acknowledge the value of their fishery.
Details
- Title
- Feeling the Pinch: Perceived Marginalization of Small-Scale Commercial Crab Fishers by an Expanding Recreational Sector
- Authors/Creators
- Clara Obregón - Murdoch UniversityMichael Hughes - Murdoch UniversityJames R. Tweedley - Murdoch UniversityNeil R. Loneragan - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Blue Justice, pp.295-314
- Series
- MARE Publication Series
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing; Cham
- Identifiers
- 991005579383407891
- Copyright
- © 2022 The Author(s)
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
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