PANDORA-CSIC fieldwork wish stakeholders started in the MediterraneanPANDORA-CSIC started field work carrying out socio-economic interviews with Mediterranean fisheries stakeholders. The interviews consider the role of workers in the transformation of fisheries.

8 October 2018

Photo: CSIC 2018

PANDORA-CSIC started field work carrying out socio-economic interviews with Mediterranean fisheries stakeholders. The interviews consider the role of workers in the transformation of fisheries.

Traditionally, in the Mediterranean, the family has had a pivotal role in the production and reproduction of fisheries and, therefore, in the economic success of fishing. Whereas men were in charge of fishing, women were usually in charge of repairing nets, fish processing and selling. Production and social reproduction of fisheries is currently no longer in the control of families, but has become more dependent on market forces and market relationships. Over the last few decades, this aspect together with other risks (e.g. over-exploitation, tight market competition, fluctuations in the price of oil as well as the weak renewal of labor force and other business costs) are compromising fisheries profitability.

Social scientists from PANDORA project partner CSIC are currently addressing these issues in interviews with members from fishing families. The interviews gather socio-economic data on ways of fishing, main species caught, costs and profitability. Part of these data concerns information on current workers’ roles in responding to global challenges in the fisheries sector; pays attention to gender roles (men/women); address issues such as labor force, social innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives; as well as new perspectives on the involvement of fisheries cooperatives. Special attention is given to the role of women whose work in fishing communities is not sufficiently visible and often little known, although it is crucial to fishing families and communities as well as to the fisheries industry as a whole .

If you would like to learn more about CSIC's cooperation with fishers in the Mediterranean and the interviews undertaken in the course of PANDORA, get in touch with Silvia Gomez at CSIC.