Title: Understanding the value of fisheries for local communities
Supervisionary Team: Dr. Karyn Morrissey, Dr. Mark Riley and Professor Andy Plater
Although there has been much ecological research on fisheries, and economic considerations of their commercial value, there has been limited consideration of social and cultural aspects of fisheries and fisheries management both within policy and also academic research. Recent research has stated that EU fisheries policy has been too focused on economic growth and ecological sustainability and that “this blinkered vision misses the complexity of the fishing industry and its contribution to social and economic well-being for many coastal communities”. Whilst the value of agriculture to wider rural communities in the UK has been well discussed in both the popular media, far less attention has been paid to the importance of fisheries to the communities in which they are situated. This omission is significant, as it means that we are unable to fully understand the social consequences of the significant changes to marine and fisheries regulations which are currently taking place. Although policy often mentions the ‘social benefits’ that thriving fisheries can yield, there is strong argument that the concerns of both fishers and the wider fishing community are not taken seriously within UK fisheries policy. This project seeks to fill this void, and provide a much needed social science perspective to fisheries research, by exploring the value(s) that coastal communities place on their fishing industries.
Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach the specific aim of the project is to:
• To develop a more holistic understanding of how the ecological and economic fortunes of fisheries are interconnected with social aspects.
This will be achieved by examining:
• The socio-cultural value of the fisheries sector using a non-market valuation framework
• Exploring place-based identities associated with coastal fishing communities via focus groups and in-depth interviews
If you are interested in applying for this position, please contact Dr. Karyn Morrissey [log in to unmask] or Dr. Mark Riley [log in to unmask] before the 10th of April.
Kind regards,
Karyn
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