Issues and problems of small-scale fishing (SSF) communities in South Asia: a comprehensive overview Rashid Mohammed Mamun, Azman Azlinda*, Singh Paramjit Singh Jamir, Ali Md Isahaque Social Work Programme, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia *E-mail: azlindaa@usm.my
Online published on 8 March, 2021. Abstract Fishing and aquaculture activities have become the main suppliers of food and nutrition all around the world. These two activities are also the source of livelihood for many people across the globe. Almost 90% of the global fish production takes place in Asia, specifically in South Asian countries. However, issues like over-fishing, lack of governance, and sustainability have started to threaten SSF communities around the region. This conceptual paper aims to examine issues and problems plaguing SSF communities in SouthAsian countries. The data reveal that the adverse effects of climate change has seriously impended lives and livelihoods of fishing communities. In this regard, ethnic fishing communities are more vulnerable to globalization, emergence of capital penetration, poverty-stricken conditions and being entrapped in high debt. Communities of SSF have partial set of skills and resources for coping with the ever-changing internal and external elements, including shocks and vulnerabilities. This paper also presents recommendations for policy changes, including livelihood diversification, policy inclusion and capacity development to improve lives and livelihoods of these economically and socially downtrodden people. Top Keywords South Asia, Issues, Challenges, Fisheries communities. Top |