Rural Sociology and Psycology (1+0)

1.2.3.Demographic change in coastal fishing communities and its implications for the coastal environment

The global trend in the number of coastal fishers is still increasing; the number of coastal fishers is still on the increase but at a slower rate. These changes could not be primarily explained by demographic factors, but could be partly attributable to growing economies in these countries as well as rising education levels and the presence of alternative livelihood opportunities outside the fisheries sector.

Regarding intergenerational occupational mobility, the artisanal fishing is no longer seen as a “last resort employment” and that there is movement out of fishing into other occupations in the service sector or into unemployment. In addition to demographic factors, changes in the main and secondary livelihoods of rural households and the successful implementation of livelihood diversification strategies would impact on the number of coastal fishers.

Some policy options relating to an overall approach that would integrate population, health and welfare programmes with fisheries development and management actions. The formulation of both fisheries and population policies requires reliable statistics on fisherfolk.