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Livelihoods Characterization of a Small-Scale Fishing Community in the Columbian Caribbean

Author

Listed:
  • Maldonado, Jorge Higinio

    (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Moreno-Sánchez, Rocío del Pilar

    (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Vargas-Morales, Myriam Elizabeth

    (Universidad de los Andes)

  • Leguizamo, Emilio

    (Universidad de los Andes)

Abstract

Coastal communities that depend on small-scale fisheries (SSFs) are poorly understood. Designing policies to address their vulnerabilities requires an understanding of the socioeconomic context in which SSFs operate. Unfortunately, that type of information is usually incomplete and dispersed in developing countries. This study seeks to close this gap by comprehensively examining the sociodemographics, assets, livelihood strategies, food security, and poverty levels of a fishing village in the Colombian Caribbean, including both fishing and non-fishing households. We collected information in the village of Barú (Cartagena) through monthly surveys from July 2018 to September 2019. The analysis follows the sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) to understand the households’ livelihoods. Our results show that: (i) SSFs play a double role in fishing households: self-consumption and income generation. (ii) SSFs play an essential role in food security for both fishing and non-fishing households. (iii) Livelihood diversification, including multispecies fishing and activities by household members in addition to the head, is key for diversifying risk and smoothing consumption. (iv) Fishing communities face significant restrictions in access to financial markets. (v) Although fishing households are better off than non-fishing ones in terms of income, they exhibit much lower education and literacy. (vi) The whole community lacks access to essential services such as health services and water or sewage.

Suggested Citation

  • Maldonado, Jorge Higinio & Moreno-Sánchez, Rocío del Pilar & Vargas-Morales, Myriam Elizabeth & Leguizamo, Emilio, 2021. "Livelihoods Characterization of a Small-Scale Fishing Community in the Columbian Caribbean," EfD Discussion Paper 21-12, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunefd:2021_012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bailey, Conner & Jentoft, Svein, 1990. "Hard choices in fisheries development," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 333-344, July.
    2. Beck, Tony & Nesmith, Cathy, 2001. "Building on Poor People's Capacities: The Case of Common Property Resources in India and West Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 119-133, January.
    3. Teh, Louise & Sumaila, U. Rashid, 2007. "Malthusian overfishing in Pulau Banggi?," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 451-457, July.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • Q22 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Fishery
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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