Water, poverty and inland fisheries: Lessons from Africa and Asia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Water, poverty and inland fisheries

T2 - Lessons from Africa and Asia

AU - Béné, Christophe

AU - Friend, Richard M.

PY - 2009/3

Y1 - 2009/3

N2 - Relying on experience from West Africa and the Mekong Basin, we contend that small-scale inland fisheries are a critical element in the livelihoods of many farming households who live near water bodies in developing countries. Empirical evidence suggests that the relation between poverty and small-scale fisheries cannot be reduced to a simple correlation with income. A more thorough analysis is required. Using vulnerability and exclusions as two dimensions of poverty, we show that poverty in fishing communities includes a wide range of variables: income but also land ownership, debt, access to health, education and financial capital, and political and geographical marginalization.

AB - Relying on experience from West Africa and the Mekong Basin, we contend that small-scale inland fisheries are a critical element in the livelihoods of many farming households who live near water bodies in developing countries. Empirical evidence suggests that the relation between poverty and small-scale fisheries cannot be reduced to a simple correlation with income. A more thorough analysis is required. Using vulnerability and exclusions as two dimensions of poverty, we show that poverty in fishing communities includes a wide range of variables: income but also land ownership, debt, access to health, education and financial capital, and political and geographical marginalization.

KW - Livelihoods

KW - Mekong

KW - Poverty

KW - Small-scale fisheries

KW - Vulnerability

KW - West Africa

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69249129051&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/02508060802677838

DO - 10.1080/02508060802677838

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:69249129051

SN - 0250-8060

VL - 34

SP - 47

EP - 61

JO - Water International

JF - Water International

IS - 1

ER -