Gopal, Nikita and Hapke, Holly M. and Leela, Edwin (2023) Technological transformation and changing social relations in the ring seine fishery of Kerala, India. Maritime Studeis, 22 (2). 01-13.
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Across the Global South, commercial development and technological innovations are transforming fsh food systems in ways that signifcantly impact the livelihoods of small-scale producers and the food security of the poor. A crucial but understudied aspect of such transformations is the social relations in which fsh food systems are embedded. Food system transformations change power relations and rework gendered economic roles and divisions of labour in ways that often marginalise women and other vulnerable groups. In this paper, we draw on feminist studies of gender and technology and feminist commodity chain analysis to investigate the impact of technological transformation on social relations in the ring seine fshery of Kerala, India. Kerala’s ring seine fshery specifcally targets small pelagics like sardine, mackerel, and anchovies, which have been identifed as important to the food security and nutrition of the poor. Since the mid-1980s, when the ring seinewas first introduced to enable small-scale fshers to compete with mechanised trawlers, these fshing units have expanded both in terms of numbers and in size, largely as a result of locally-driven technological innovation and adaptation. Though traditional arrangements of labour deployment and wage sharing have remained, rising competition and differentiation between fshermen have ensued. At the same time, changes in processing, distribution, and trade have reworked women’s economic roles and position in the fshery, and questions about long-term proftability and sustainability have necessitated interventions in governance at various levels. Tracing the trajectory of technological innovation and changing social relations through the value chain, we assessed the gendered implications of fsh food system transformations for livelihoods. We found that the increase in dimensions of the new gear increased both investments and operational costs of the fshing units rendering several of them uneconomical. Time-tested social norms have also changed as competition increased, which is much more pronounced between the smaller and larger fshing vessels. The traditional wage sharing pattern still remains ensuring income security for fshermen who cannot fnd work as crew on these fshing vessels. Women, however, have been most afected by the changes as they no longer are able to access the fsh resource as earlier for engaging in post-harvest activities, such as marketing and fsh drying.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Kerala, India, Ring Seine, Women, Livelihoods, Food Security, Gender, Nutrition, Small-scale Fisheries, Mechanised Boats, Labour, Value Chain, Fishing Vessels, Fishermen, Income, Fishing Communities |
| Subjects: | Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture Right to Resources |
| Depositing User: | Vivek D ICSF |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2023 10:11 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jun 2023 10:11 |
| URI: | http://icsfarchives.net/id/eprint/19836 |
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