"The fishery went away": The impacts of long-term fishery closures on young people's experience and perception of fisheries employment in Newfoundland coastal communities

Abstract

ABSTRACT. There is a growing body of research documenting the impacts of fisheries collapses on communities and fisheries workers. Less attention has been paid to the sustainable use of fisheries resources so that future generations have access to these resources, or to the creation of mechanisms that might contribute to the intergenerational continuity of recruitment of fisheries workers and the regeneration of fisheries communities. In this paper we report on young people's experiences and perceptions of fisheries employment in Newfoundland and Labrador to deepen our understanding of the resiliency of small-scale fisheries. We found that these young people's experiences of fisheries employment are extremely limited and their perceptions of the quality of fisheries work is primarily negative while, at the same time, they recognize its importance to the vitality of their communities. We argue that stock collapses and subsequent downsizing and regulatory changes in the industry have disrupted intergenerational continuity in fisheries work and shaped how young people view their communities and options.

Gone fishing? Intergenerational cultural shifts can undermine common property co-managed fisheries

“…Similarly, a recorded dearth of interest among youth to participate in fisheries was found in a recent study in Newfoundland, Canada [16]. In Newfoundland, youth perceptions that fishing opportunities are few and are of low-status, and that greater job prospects exist elsewhere are being compounded by the erosion of social ties and capital from outmigration, giving even fewer reasons for potential fishers to stay.…”

“Little kings”: community, change and conflict in Icelandic fisheries

“…While quota consolidation leads to decreased access opportunities and family connections, technological changes also reduce the need for labor in the processing and catching industries (Skaptadóttir 2000). General negative attitudes have emerged towards jobs in fisheries particularly for youth and women, who view fisheries as an industry without any upward mobility (Donkersloot 2011;Skaptadóttir and Proppé Karlsdóttir 2006Karlsdóttir , 2008Power et al 2014). Furthermore, many participants in our research expressed the common perception that "teenagers have different needs these days."…”

Introduction to the Special Feature on rebuilding fisheries and threatened communities

“…They focus on efforts to rebuild local and regional institutions by creating new ones, and reinventing, reactivating, or re-positioning old ones, with the goal of addressing a broad range of risks. Power et al (2014) extend current thinking on livelihoods in fishing communities to help focus on a range of processes that can shape or distort youth's ideas of the options available to them for their futures. Working in western Newfoundland, a region hard hit by the collapse of regional cod stocks and prolonged rebuilding (extending over > 20 years), they explore the perceptions that young people have of local fisheries and their home communities.…”

“…Bennett et al (2014), Broderstad and Eythórsson (2014), Foley and McCay (2014), Johnsen and Hersoug (2014), Nayak et al (2014), Paterson and Kainge (2014), Power et al (2014), and Pinkerton et al (2014) examine issues of complexity, class exploitation, use and property rights, levels and scales of governance, youth, relationships between local and scientific knowledge, often dwindling access to resources, and control over management of local and First Nation communities. They share concerns that many communities and people (who are on the frontlines grappling with major shifts in the social-ecological systems of which they are a part) are at risk of having their vulnerability enhanced by management initiatives and organizational and market changes triggered by, or concurrent with, these changes.…”

“…Ten addressed the first question (Bennett et al 2014, Blythe et al 2014, Broderstad and Eythórsson 2014, Dawe and Schneider 2014, Foley and McCay 2014, Johnsen and Hersoug 2014, Nayak et al 2014, Paterson and Kainge 2014, Pinkerton et al 2014, Power et al 2014; nine addressed the second question either directly or implicitly (Bennett et al 2014, Blythe et al 2014, Brodestad and Eythórsson 2014, Foley and McCay 2014, Lowitt 2014, Nayak et al 2014, Paterson and Kainge 2014, Pinkerton et al 2014, Power et al 2014; and eight implicitly addressed the last question (Bennett et al 2014, Broderstad and Eythórsson 2014, Foley and McCay 2014, Johnsen and Hersoug 2014, Nayak et al 2014, Paterson and Kainge 2014, Pinkerton et al 2014, Power et al 2014.…”