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Spatial diversity in small‐scale fishing: A socio‐cultural interpretation of the Nile perch sector on L ake V ictoria, U ganda
Author(s) -
Beuving Joost
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-9663
pISSN - 0040-747X
DOI - 10.1111/tesg.12081
Subject(s) - fishing , perch , diversity (politics) , scale (ratio) , geography , interpretation (philosophy) , perspective (graphical) , economic geography , socioeconomic status , spatial ecology , cultural diversity , fishery , sociology , fish <actinopterygii> , computer science , cartography , ecology , demography , anthropology , artificial intelligence , biology , programming language , population
This paper discusses spatial patterns in small‐scale fishing in A frica. It is located in L ake V ictoria where since the 1990s a vibrant N ile perch fishing for overseas export developed. Focusing on a very small area in the U gandan part of the lake, the paper uncovers a larger diversity in fishermen's responses to the dynamic environment of the N ile perch sector than a widely adopted generic model predicts. To understand this better, the paper looks at the social practices of N ile perch fishermen, uncovering the operation of different, spatially situated, fishing styles. These styles structure the social relations that the fishermen mobilise, the symbolic meanings they attach to their gear, and the values that inspire their decision‐making. By thus looking at socio‐cultural factors the paper hopes to contribute to an emerging spatial perspective on small‐scale fishing in A frica that begins with an interest in actual social practice.