TY - JOUR

T1 - Fishing Farmers

T2 - Fishing, Livelihood Diversification and Poverty in Rural Laos

AU - Martin, S.M.

AU - Lorenzen, K.

AU - Bunnefeld, N.

PY - 2013/10/31

Y1 - 2013/10/31

N2 - The relationship between fishing, livelihood diversification and poverty was investigated in the lower Mekong basin, in Laos, where fishing forms an important, but usually secondary part of rural livelihoods. Results from a household survey show that participation in fishing is common and positively associated with higher occupational diversity and more agricultural activities. This is likely due to the low opportunity costs associated with many forms of fishing and factors such as tradition, enjoyment of fishing, underutilised labour and low capital requirements. Alternative livelihoods within the rural setting are therefore unlikely to cause fishers to leave the fishery, but instead strengthen the livelihood portfolio as a supplementary activity. Fishing is not an activity only for the very poorest households, but is undertaken by all wealth groups. However, fishing forms a greater proportion of income, employment and food security for the poor and is important in households with poor quality farm land.

AB - The relationship between fishing, livelihood diversification and poverty was investigated in the lower Mekong basin, in Laos, where fishing forms an important, but usually secondary part of rural livelihoods. Results from a household survey show that participation in fishing is common and positively associated with higher occupational diversity and more agricultural activities. This is likely due to the low opportunity costs associated with many forms of fishing and factors such as tradition, enjoyment of fishing, underutilised labour and low capital requirements. Alternative livelihoods within the rural setting are therefore unlikely to cause fishers to leave the fishery, but instead strengthen the livelihood portfolio as a supplementary activity. Fishing is not an activity only for the very poorest households, but is undertaken by all wealth groups. However, fishing forms a greater proportion of income, employment and food security for the poor and is important in households with poor quality farm land.

KW - Inland fisheries

KW - Alternative livelihood

KW - Diversification

KW - Poverty

KW - Laos

KW - Mekong

U2 - 10.1007/s10745-013-9567-y

DO - 10.1007/s10745-013-9567-y

M3 - Journal article

VL - 41

SP - 737

EP - 747

JO - Human Ecology

JF - Human Ecology

SN - 0300-7839

ER -