Well-being among Fisherfolks in Africa Research (WELFARE) (175515/S40)

The main research question regards whether there exists compatability between small-scale fisheries as a poverty reduction- and a poverty prevention mechanism; put differently: is it possible that fish and water resources may serve as means to accumulate wealth and create economic growth (locally and nationally) at the same time as they serve as a safety net for large groups of poor people. The project seeks to shed light on this question by taking into account new insights regarding fisherfolks' great g eographical and occupational mobility and the overall flexibility in the household institutions as economic units. Four empirical empirical fields have been identified as particularly interesting: a) ownership structures and labour b) trade systems c) t echnological changes d) alternative use of water resources Through use of case studies from Southern Africa the project will analyse change processes within these four research fields to see how they affect, but also how they are affected by processes o f social differenciation in the fishing communities. Welfare and poverty aspects such as economic exclusion, social integration, class exploitation and political empowerment will be taken count of in the studies. Comparisons will be undertaken, both betw een cases from the Southern African region, but also regarding differences in the development and welfare situation between Southern and West Africa.