Dilemma of the small-scale fishermen

Abstract

Resource managers in many countries have not yet fully grasped the consequences of the fisheries dilemma now emerging in Southeast Asia. Official views often hold that abundant underutilized stocks still exist while in fact few do and many are already overexploited. Official views commonly state that there are opportunities for increased employment in fishing while in fact the catches are already divided among too many fishermen resulting in very low individual incomes. Official views commonly are that more boats and fishing gear are needed, while in fact a great excess of harvesting capacity already exists, resulting in wasted fuel and resources. Perhaps most importantly, official plans call for rapidly increasing harvests of fish when this is probably not possible.