Socio-Economic importance of coastal fisheries

Transcription

1 Socio-Economic importance of coastal fisheries Dr. Sveinn Agnarsson & Dr. Anna Karlsdóttir, University of Iceland (IS) Coastal Fisheries in the N-Atlantic Working Group for Fisheries Co-operation (AG-Fisk) Workshop in Reykjavik March 25 th -26 th 2014

2 Regional development Concentration of most ITQs in the hands of a few firms Complex geography Reykjavík and (some) larger fishing towns gained Small villages lost out The Westfjords particularly badly affected Many processes at work, besides changes in the fisheries!

3 Iceland: A modern city state Number of communities > 100,000 10,000-99,000 5,000-9,999 2,000-4,999 1,000-1, Rural areas Population by community size > 100,000 10,000-99,000 5,000-9,999 2,000-4,999 1,000-1,

4 The problems of the fishing towns Risk and uncertainty The links between place and resource were cut with the fisheries quota management system Cultural and social change Jobs in fishing and fish processing are no longer considered attractive The knowledge economy There is great innovation in the fisheries, but much of it takes place not in the fishing towns, but elsewhere (mostly in Reykjavík!)

5 The Westfjords tons processed in the region: all demersal fish population of the region: cod only

6 Community quotas Since 2003, a small fraction of the TAC has been allocated to fisheries-dependent municipalities adversely affected by quota transfers Mostly to the smallest communities Not a great success! Difficult for municipal governments to reallocate the quotas to fishers in an impartial way

7 Catches of the small vessel and coastal fleets Tonnes. Species: Cod, haddock, saithe, redfish,wolffish, spotted wolffish, tusk, ling Total Hook Coastal 500, , , , , , , , ,000 50,

8 Icelandic small vessel fishing fleet Open boats Boats 0-10 tonnes Hook quota system: 510 boats in in Coastal fishing: 554 boats in in 2013.

9 Main small vessel ports and population Population development Tonnes % % Árskógssandur NE ,072 1, Hrísey NE ,435 18, Suðureyri WF 2, ,453 3, Breiðdalsvík E 1, Sandgerði SN 1, ,328 1, Stöðvarfjörður E 3, ,332 4,652 7 Hofsós NW ,265 3,994-6 Hólmavík WF Bolungarvík WF 8, , Kópasker NE ,463 2, Djúpavík E Arnarstapi W ,736 1,707-2 Brjánslækur WF , Siglufjörður NE 2, ,711 2, Flateyri WF ,453 3, Vopnafjörður E Drangsnes WF Borgarfjörður Eystri E

10 What becomes of the catches? Share of landings processed in home port (%)

11 Net profits of fishing fleets Boats < 10 GRT Boats GRT Boats > 200 GRT 30 Pelagic Icetrawlers Freezer trawlers

12 The importance of productivity (and oher factors) The role of productivity Higher productivity higher wages Higher productivity lower demand for labur Low productivity low wages, unattractive. Concentation of processing facilitites Different values Increased education Better facilities The grass is greener Þjóðarspegill 2007: Áttunda ráðstefna um rannsóknir í félagsvísindum

13 A set of ruptures within the apparent continuity and immutability of longline fishing as a specific fishing technique The Icelandic government has been progressively re-configuring fisheries Longline fishing is deeply rooted in the maritime past of Iceland, and is the economic, social and cultural expression of a local identity Local inquiries in other villages in both Eastern and Western Iceland helped us to see clearly that the revival of the handbaited long line practice was specific to the Westfjords.

14 Assessment of the Coastal fisheries program summer 2009 Objective: Describe the Scale and impacts of the coastal fisheries program on coastal communities in Iceland regarding the intended objectives for the fisheries: Strenghtening settlements and stimulating Job-creation in the fisheries villages Provide more people than quotaowners possibilities of limited fisheries for jobcreation Spur reqruitment of new entrants into the sector, enabling traing, experience and knowledge creation. Distribution of licenses is as equal as possible, i.e. The licenses will not be consolidated among fewer users Data collection and methods Quantitative Approach Questionaire surveys among 100 Shipping companies Questionaire surveys among 116 Stakeholders and administrative stakeholders.

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16 Findings of Socioeconomic impacts The coastal communities with fewer than inhabitants approx. 70% respondents thought the program had a social and economic importance for their community, while the proportion among respondents from larger towns was 25%. Importance for the community

17 Intentions Vs. realities Recruitment renewal of entrants not as promising as intended Job-creation effects limited weakening the overall aim; to strengthen coastal communities settlement - inter-regional variations in significance Weighing social and economic pros and cons of the implications of the program!