MARE conference 2021

Preamble

The MARE conference presents an opportunity towards the end of the scoping phase of DFM to take stock of what we have achieved so far. It also gives us a chance to present our preliminary results to the broader maritime studies audience.

This proposal for three linked panels attempts to reconfigure the usual academic conference panel into a form that better reflects the collaborative spirit that drives a large international effort to build knowledge on social economies of dried fish in Asia. The three panels take a roundtable format that blends collectively authored statements on project design, case studies presented in a more conventional conference paper format, commentaries, a multi-media presentation of dried fish stories, and frequent opportunities for feedback and discussion with the audience. The goal of the roundtables is to encapsulate the energy and dynamism of the Dried Fish Matters project mid-stream through deliberate reflections on project framing, process, and emerging findings. We see this as an opportunity to draw insights from the larger maritime studies community about our novel insights into the multiple places of dried fish in Asia, through a process of dialogue that aspires to match the collaborative spirit of the project itself.

The three roundtables focus on the general themes of ideas, methods, and findings. The roundtables build on each other to convey the work in progress of constructing knowledge about Asia’s dried fish social economies.     

We do not need to have a final program for the roundtables at this stage. If our proposal is accepted we can work on details for some time until the conference program needs to be finalized. I anticipate that the conference committee will accept the proposal, but not allow us the full number of panels that we are requesting.

Building out collaborations on dried fish social economies in Asia 1: Ideas

The session format aims to blend presentations and commentaries on knowledge and process generated by the Dried Fish Matters project with multiple opportunities for audience interaction. The presentations and commentaries will be designed to elicit audience feedback and interaction.

Introduction to the Building out collaborations on dried fish social economies in Asia roundtable sessions

Presenter: Derek Johnson

This will be a short (5 minute) introduction to the three roundtable sessions that gives a brief sketch of the Dried Fish Matters project and introduces the intent and format of the three sessions.

Linking social wellbeing and intersectionality to understand gender relations in dried fish value chains

Presenter: Iroshani (Madu) Galappaththi

Co-author: Derek Armitage

Gender relations are a critical gap in our current understanding of fish value chains in general. Understanding gender relations, however, requires further development of existing approaches to value chain research. This perspective paper aims to broaden the conceptual and analytical scope of conventional value chain research by developing a framework that links the concepts of social wellbeing, intersectionality, and value chain analysis. This framework reflects the breadth of benefits women derive through their participation in value chains as well as the relational structures (e.g., caste, ethnicity) that perpetuate gender inequities within these chains. Using case-based examples, we illustrate how the new framework produces a "thick description" of gender relations that reflects the contexts within which the value chains are embedded. The application of our new framework leads to insights on the socially and culturally unique ways that dried fish value chains support the social wellbeing of women (e.g., social ties, cultural values), and how gender intersects with other social structures (e.g., widows, refugees, caste groups) and uniquely position women and men with regard to how they can benefit from value chain participation. Such insights are critical to understanding the root causes of gender inequity within dried fish value chains and exploring opportunities to meaningfully address them.

Commentary on Madu Galappaththi

Presenter: Kyoko Kusakabe

Commentary on the preceding presentation.

Framing questions and roundtable discussion

Facilitator: Jenia Mukherjee

This discussion will focus on framing questions in the social economy approach to dried fish value chains.

Building out collaborations on dried fish social economies in Asia 2: Methods

The session format aims to blend presentations and commentaries on knowledge and process generated by the Dried Fish Matters project with multiple opportunities for audience interaction. The presentations and commentaries will be designed to elicit audience feedback and interaction.

Roundtable introduction

Presenter: Derek Johnson

A very short, orientating introduction to the roundtable that locates it in relation to the Dried Fish Matters project and the other two sessions in the sequence (<5 mins)

Assessing perceptions of effectiveness of three levels of communication in an international project on the social economy of dried fish in Asia

Presenter: Presenter: Alexia Pigeault

Co-authors: Fabiana Li; Eric Thrift

How do we understand the terms "scientific communication", "international collaboration", and "effective communications"? Do these concepts have the same meaning in an international research project led by anthropologists as they do in a transnational business environment? I attempt to answer these questions by contrasting ideas of communications as taken from business and anthropological perspectives, with the goal of understanding the nature of communication and collaboration in research teams studying small-scale fisheries. Prior research has addressed management as coordinating relations between fishing communities, governance institutions, and scientists. However, the researchers who investigate these relations have not typically been observed themselves as a variable in management processes. My project considers the relationships between researchers and their collaborators, drawing on a general survey sent to participants in the Dried Fish Matters (DFM) project, in-depth interviews, and participant observation in workings groups and selected research teams. I examined three levels of communication in the DFM project: internal communication within the global project; external communication with outside knowledge users or the general public; and internal communication within partner organizations and the different research teams. This allowed me to identify several key factors affecting communication and collaboration, including: culture, professional background, personality, time difference, and working language. This study helps to understand the role of scientists in shaping knowledge through communication with others, examines key elements of communication and collaboration, and brings together some solutions in terms of effective communication and effective communicative management applied to the DFM project.

Online tools for collaboration in a time of Covid-19

Presenter: Eric Thrift

This will be a short review of the experience of implementing a variety of online tools for collaborative knowledge creation in a multinational research project. It will reflect particularly on the stimulus to innovation prompted by the global Covid-19 pandemic. (10-15 mins)

Visualizing social economies: Dried Fish Stories from Asia

Presenters: Nireka Weeratunge, Tina Chen, Gayathri Lokuge, Eric Thrift

A 20 minute montage of photos, video, soundscapes, and narration that seeks to convey the diversity entailed by social economies of dried fish in Asia.

Short commentary on the Visualizing social economies montage.

Presenter: Sara Ahmed

Themes and questions: results from a deliberative exercise on constructing social economies of dried fish (15 mins)

Presenter: Tara Nair

Co-authors: Ratana Chuenpagdee, Nireka Weeratunge

We report on the activities and outcomes of an internal, deliberative process seeking to identify key themes and research questions on social economies of dried fish in Asia. Elements of deliberation emerge from ongoing scoping research and the team's transdicsiplinary expertise.

Discussion

Following the last presentation will be a 30 minute discussion period facilitated by the presenters of the Themes and Questions presentation.

Building out collaborations on dried fish social economies in Asia 3: Findings

The session format aims to blend presentations and commentaries on knowledge and process generated by the Dried Fish Matters project with multiple opportunities for audience interaction. The presentations and commentaries will be designed to elicit audience feedback and interaction.

Of the three roundtables, this session is closest to a traditional panel format. Nonetheless, the panel chair will position the session in relationship to the broader intent of the overall set of panels and will invite questions and reflections from the audience at the end of this session that link all three roundtables.

Roundtable Introduction

Presenter: Derek Johnson

A very short orientating introduction to the roundtable that locates it in relation to the Dried Fish Matters project and the other two sessions in the sequence (<5 mins)

Gendered experiences and social networks in fish processing in Cambodia

Presenter: Gayathri Lokuge

Co-authors: Kyoko Kusakabe; Prak Sereyvath, Derek Johnson

Historically, fish processing and trade in Cambodia have been an important part of not only the nation's economy, but also its rich history, culture, and heritage. Several studies, focusing on the inland water sector in Cambodia, have highlighted the importance of post-harvest or processing activities as an important supplementary livelihood option, especially for poorer households, women and children; the important role played by dried or processed fish products in food security and nutrition; and the impacts of ecological changes on fish stocks and therefore the processed fish sector. However, there remains a scarcity of research that provides a nuanced sociological analysis of those who are engaged in fish processing, including their experiences and aspirations, especially from a gendered/intersectional lens. This paper, as part of the Dried Fish Matters project, draws on primary data collected over five months in markets, landing sites, and floating villages around the Tonle Sap lake and coastal Cambodia. The paper aims to discuss the different groups of people who are involved in different types of fish processing, their gendered socialization processes and how they continue to shape young girls' and boys' engagement with fisheries and fish processing, and the roles of (gendered/intersectional) kinship and social networks in processed fish value chains in Cambodia.

Gender and gender insensitivity in the dried fish value chains: The case of Hasil system in Andhra Pradesh, India

Presenter: Jeena Srinivasan

This paper focuses on the output market access and participation of women dried fish processors in Andhra Pradesh. Our study finds that apart from various socio-economic inequities, a local tax system, known as the Hasil system, limits women's access to and their involvement in dry fish output markets. Hasil, a word of Arabic/Persian origin, means "tax" or "revenue" and has been in existence in the study area even before the Indian independence. At present, it constitutes a type of entry fee or tax collected by the local administration for the use of market space and their participation in the market transactions. However, over time, the implementation of the system has undergone several changes. It has acquired various imperfections and lapses, resulting in the exploitation of women and other vulnerable participants. This paper examines the role of Hasil system as a dried fish market entry regulatory mechanism. It attempts to bring out the gender-specific implications and gender insensitivities of the system. It also examines how the Hasil system affects the women processors' ability to participate in market transactions and their potential outcomes. Further, we identify context-specific recommendations for improving the market access and participation of women processors.

The Paradox of Progress: The Dried Fish Social Economy of Gujarat

Presenter: Tara Nair Rudra

Co-authors: Narayan Mishra; Himani Bakshi; Arti Oza

Fisheries and aquaculture in India is an important sector supporting over 14 million fishers. There is no systematic count of those who are part of the fisheries value chain that extends from capture to consumption. Gujarat, the largest producer of marine fish (seven lakh metric tonnes in 2016-17), supports close to six lakh fishermen. The available estimates show that about half this amount gets converted to dried products. Gujarat accounts for 89 per cent of unsalted and 69 per cent of salted or smoked dried fish in the country. Though exact estimates are not available, field research shows that a significant part of the inland fish production – especially of wold fish or jungle fish – also gets dried and transported out of the state. The traditional dried fish sector in the state has, however, been facing several systemic challenges including dwindling catch, marine pollution, competition for ground water from aqua culture, overfishing and climate change. There are challenges on the management side as well, such as inadequate landing facilities or post-harvest infrastructure for storage, transport and distribution, resulting in considerable waste and losses. Further, the state has witnessed strong protests from fishworkers and the organizations that work for their rights against policies that encourage establishment of large industrial establishments like power stations along the coastline. This paper will present a detailed analysis of the dried fish sector in Gujarat in light of the above challenges.  Additionally, it will examine the role of state policies in addressing the immediate practical challenges of the sector as well as the long-term, strategic concerns.

Maldive Fish processing in Sri Lanka: A Case Study in Matara District, Southern Province

Presenter: Dilanthi N Koralagama

Co-authors: SA Adikary,  SANP Hansani and N Weeratunge

Maldive fish is a unique, staple ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine, originating historically in the neighbouring Maldives.  Based on a processing technique, which includes smoking and drying, Maldive fish flakes are used as a condiment in vegetable dishes and in accompaniments (sambols) that enhance the flavour of a rice meal. The local demand is fulfilled by domestic production and imports. As a cottage level industry, local production statistics are scant. In contrast, Maldive fish imported to Sri Lanka was recorded at 2400 MT in 2018. This paper explores the Maldive fish value chain in Sri Lanka with the objective of making it more visible, focusing on its gendered dimensions, based on qualitative fieldwork in the coastal villages of Kottegoda and Gandara in Matara District of the Southern Province. Research methods comprised in-depth interviews conducted with processors (n=25), traders (n=10) and leaders of processor associations (n=2) in October 2020. The paper addresses knowledge gaps in structure, scale and process of production, labour utilisation, value addition and trading of Maldive fish within the country. It discusses species preferences, techniques of processing, types of products, gendered ownership patterns, the gender division of labour in production, wages, marketing mechanisms and networks across the country, and the place of Maldive fish in local cuisine. A noteworthy trend in demand is the development of new value added Maldive fish products, destined for local urban super market chains and overseas markets, targeted at the Sri Lankan diaspora. Constraints identified by the producers include imperfect information between producer, trader and consumer and lack of a central market place. The paper argues for the need for a transparent marketing system, which will enable enhanced local production of Maldive fish with positive impacts on the national economy.

From Dried Fish Processing to Shrimp Culture: Analyzing Utilization shift of Marine fish in India

Presenter: Gargi Mondal

Co-authors: Amalendu Jyotishi, Ramchandra Bhat, Priya Gupta

Dried Fish activities in India plays a significant role not only in the sustenance of several fishing communities, it also meets the economic necessities and caters to their nutritional requirements. The present paper aims to estimate and understand the trends in its production over a period of 15 years between 2004 and 2018. Dried fish processing activities in India are often led by small-scale women processors whose livelihoods are dependent on this activity. In recent years, the demand for feed led by shrimp culture has driven FMFO industry that reduces and utilizes marine products to produce fishmeal and oil, an important requirement for shrimp feed. Direct competition of marine fish utilization by shrimp farms via FMFO industry makes the dried fish sector vulnerable. In this paper we attempt to estimate the dried fish production and wet fish equivalent going to shrimp farms. In the process, we analyze the shift in the utilization of marine products from dried fish towards shrimp feed. Through compilation and estimation of tedious data on dried fish and shrimp production, we identify a negative correlation between dried fish and shrimp feed production over the years. This paper, thus, makes a valued contribution towards a shift in the utilization of marine fish from dried fish in favor of shrimp feed that has serious implications on livelihood of dried fish processors as well as food & nutrition security of the country apart from ecological implications of such shifts on marine and land resources.

Discussion

Facilitator: Benjamin Belton

Following the final presentation will be a discussion period of 20-30 minutes that will follow the plan laid out in the description of alternative session format.  

Other DFM Panels at MARE

Combined panel with Fish4Food, SmallFishFood, and IKAN-F3 on small fish and nutrition security

• A summary paper on dried fish and nutrition security from DFM would be part of this panel (Sami, Rotimi, Amal, Priya, Ben, Shakuntala, Kirit, Sai Leela)

V2V-DFM panel

Fostering viable social economies in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture

It is reasonable to talk about small-scale fisheries and aquaculture as social economies. As the literature on SSFA has long made clear, at the very heart of what defines SSFA are the more-than-economic relationships through which their participants bring them into being. Sense of place, local ecological knowledge, distinctive cultural and social values, sector and community-specific governance arrangements, and gender, religious, and other social markers of diversity are woven together with economic practices in SSFA. Yet, as the literature on SSFA also makes clear, there is long-standing and growing anxiety about the continued viability of SSFA globally given the many and varied threats that they face. This panel is a deliberate effort to bring together fresh insights into these long-standing themes from two large-scale, multi-country, multi-partner Social Sciences and Humanities Foundation of Canada Partnership Grant projects. We highlight the new analytical tools and conceptual and governance innovations developed by the projects with the aim to support SSFA actors to build their social-economic viability.

• V2V I-Adapt framework (Alida Bundy)
• V2V Situational Analysis (Derek Armitage)
• DFM Social ecological systems and dried fish value chains (Sisir Pradhan)
• DFM Policy, governance, development and dried fish value chains (Emdad Haque)