Subsistence in coastal fisheries policy: What's in a word?

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

11-1-2007

Abstract

Consideration of subsistence fishing activities seems particularly relevant to coastal fisheries policy, yet formal recognition of subsistence fishing is often absent from associated policy frameworks. A critical problem is the very meaning of the term "subsistence." A review of the literature on subsistence, dominated until recently by North American research, reveals a schism between interpretations emphasizing material aspects of subsistence and interpretations highlighting cultural aspects. The North American literature on the subject is heavily influenced by a focus on Arctic indigenous populations emphasizing cultural survival. Ultimately, subsistence can be a matter of survival in the belly, the soul, or both. International case studies suggest that different interpretations of subsistence are appropriate in different circumstances, and that appropriate policy can be fashioned only after the local context of subsistence is understood. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Marine Policy

Volume

31

Issue

6

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