Abstract

Gender divisions are often stereotypical in fisheries, and only recently has their role in wild fish capture begun to see light, with evidence indicating that fish harvest by women can be substantial, especially in small-scale fisheries. The state of Kerala on the southwest coast of India is one of the major fish-producing states in the country. However, what is not well recognized is that women are extensively involved in fishing, especially in inland water bodies. In this communication, we use a gender analysis framework to situate the women in selected inland fisheries through case studies, document the methods of fishing, and explore how the fish catch is utilized. We further look at whether changes in the use of inland water bodies and other external factors are impacting their fishing activity. Using social relations analysis, we try to understand the changing resource access dynamics. Access rights to many of these water resources were based on informal and customary arrangements. These arrangements are now severely stressed due to the need to accommodate multiple uses of these resources. Changes in access will in the long run have an impact with women slowly losing out on this important, though unrecognized, livelihood activity which will also affect essential nutrition and supplementary income to fisher households.

摘要

性别划分在渔业中通常是陈规定型的，直到最近它们在野生鱼类捕捞中的作用才开始显现，有证据表明女性的捕捞量可能很大，尤其是在小规模渔业中。位于印度西南海岸的喀拉拉邦是该国主要的产鱼州之一。然而，没有被充分认识到的是，妇女广泛参与捕鱼，尤其是在内陆水域。在本次交流中，我们使用性别分析框架通过案例研究将女性置于选定的内陆渔业中，记录捕鱼方法，并探讨如何利用渔获物。我们进一步研究内陆水体使用的变化和其他外部因素是否正在影响他们的捕鱼活动。使用社会关系分析，我们试图了解不断变化的资源访问动态。许多这些水资源的使用权是基于非正式和习惯的安排。由于需要适应这些资源的多种用途，这些安排现在受到严重压力。从长远来看，获取机会的变化将产生影响，使妇女逐渐失去这一重要但未被承认的生计活动，这也将影响渔民家庭的基本营养和补充收入。