MARE conference 2021

MARE 2021 logo header.png

Thank you!
Thanks to all our presenters for a great series of panels at MARE 2021 showcasing diverse and exciting research from the Dried Fish Matters project! Watch this space and our publications page for the work presented at the conference. If you missed any of the live sessions, the recordings remain available on demand to registered participants on the conference platform through August, 2021.

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.

The three linked DFM sessions attempt 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.

Strengthening connections through research on dried fish social economies in Asia 1: Ideas

Session link: Panel 2.246
Date and time: Jun 29. 10:15 - 12:15 CEST (03:15 Winnipeg, 08:15 UTC)

The ideas session introduces the conceptual inspiration for the Dried Fish Matters project, showing the wide-ranging theoretical connections across knowledge domains enabled by the idea of social economy. The roundtable format of the event seeks to embody this generative and transdisciplinary ambition of the project through stimulating dialogue among project team members, and with non-project participants in the session.

Introduction to the strengthening connections on dried fish social economies in Asia roundtable sessions (10 minutes)

Presenter: Derek Johnson

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.

Complicating value in dried fish value chains (20 minutes divided between Mahfuzar and Sisir)

The Dried Fish Matters project is generating an understanding of the diverse, complex, and dynamic relations that characterize the production, processing, trade, retailing, and consumption of dried fish in South and Southeast Asia. The project adopts the broad idea of social economy as an overarching approach to guide its analysis of how dried fish products come to have value through these variegated relations. Through the theoretical work of Mahfuzar Rahman and Sisir Pradhan, two PhD students working within the DFM project, this presentation explores the social economy idea, with a focus on value as an analytical powerful index term. Rahman uses social wellbeing and human rights perspectives in his analysis, Pradhan social-ecological systems thinking. Their presentations do not seek to provide a definitive statement of the social economy idea, but rather to open up its analytical possibilities for studying dried fish value chains. Rahman and Pradhan set the stage for the subsequent theoretical reflections in this Roundtable by Iroshani Galappaththi and other contributors.

A relational approach to complicating value in dried fish value chains - Mahfuzar Rahman (10 minutes)

My presentation adopts a relational approach to value informed with social wellbeing, value theory in anthropology and the diverse economies perspective. A relational perspective to value goes beyond the capitalist value perspective and valuation system; it emphasizes examining both the capitalist and non-capitalist economic and social relations and the values, economic and non-economic, produced by them.

Reimagining value in dried fish value chain by using a social-ecological system lens - Sisir Pradhan (10 minutes)

The objective of the paper is to reconceptualize dried fish value chain by incorporating non-linear and dynamic connections of people, ecosystem and value chain using a SES lens. Here, SES lens offers an empirical basis to move away from revenue optimization and conduct an inclusive analysis of the ‘value’ in dried fish value chain. In the absence of this, there are significant implications for wellbeing of fishers and producers, which tend to perpetuate inequity and injustice. This social-ecological systems perspective can in broadening understanding of “value” in dried fish value chain by reconfiguring value chain as dynamic, non-linear, co-evolutionary, and ultimately, constitutive of linked social and ecological processes that are ‘co-productive’.

Linking social wellbeing and intersectionality to understand gender relations in dried fish value chains (15 minutes)

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 (10 minutes)

Presenter: Kyoko Kusakabe

Commentary on the preceding presentation.

Framing questions and roundtable discussion (10 minutes for Jenia to contextualize and present framing questions and 45 minutes for discussion)

Facilitator: Jenia Mukherjee

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

Strengthening connections through research on dried fish social economies in Asia 2: Methods

Session link: Panel 2.247
Date and time: Jun 30. 15:30 - 17:30 CEST (08:30 Winnipeg; 13:30 UTC)

Central to the methodology of the Dried Fish Matters project is collaborative engagement in knowledge construction. Roundtable 2 introduces the overall methodology and tools of the Dried Fish Matters project and then zeroes in on the project's attempts to innovate in terms of knowledge co-construction within the project team and in collaboration with actors in dried fish value chains. As a primary example to illustrate the DFM approach, Roundtable 2 presents a collaboratively developed visual rendering of project findings.

Roundtable introduction (5 minutes)

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 (15 minutes)

Presenter: Alexia Pigeault

How do we understand the terms "communication", "international collaboration", and "effective communications"? How do these concepts work in an international research project led by Anthropologists? I attempt to answer these questions by contrasting ideas of communications and different influencing factors such as language, culture, interdisciplinarity, personality, and hierarchy, as taken from the perspective of the participants I interviewed, with the goal of understanding the nature of communication and collaboration in international and interdisciplinary research teams studying small-scale fisheries. Prior research has addressed management as coordinating relations between fishing communities, governance institutions, and researchers. However, the researchers who investigate these relations have not typically observed themselves as a variable in management processes. My project considers the relationships between researchers, 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 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 (10 minutes)

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 (25 minutes)

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

A five minute introduction by Nireka Weeratunge followed by 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 (5 minutes)

Presenter: Sara Ahmed

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

Presenters: Ratana Chuenpagdee, Sayeed Ferdous

Co-authors: Tara Nair, 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 (40 minutes)

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

Strengthening connections through research on dried fish social economies in Asia 3: Findings

Session link: Panel 2.248
Date and time: Jul 01. 15:30 - 17:30 CEST (08:30 Winnipeg; 13:30 UTC) [REVISED TIME]

Roundtable 3 takes a more classic panel framing than the first two Roundtables in this series to present findings from the first phase of the Dried Fish Matters project on the social economy of value chains in South and Southeast Asia. The papers in the session reflect different facets of the guiding idea of social economy, and position their findings at different scales from reflections on the materiality of a single product to analysis of structural shifts in the economy of fisheries in India as they relate to the availability of dried fish for human consumption. Gender in dried fish values chains is a theme that cuts across most of the papers in the roundtable. Roundtable 2 will conclude with a short reflection on all three panels in the DFM session by Ben Belton who will then lead a discussion that reflects on themes of the roundtables.

Roundtable Introduction (5 minutes)

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

Maldive Fish processing in Sri Lanka: A Case Study in Matara District, Southern Province (12 minutes)

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.

Gendered experiences and social networks in fish processing in Cambodia (12 minutes)

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: A study of women processors' access to and participation in the fresh-fish input and dried-fish output markets in Andhra Pradesh, India (12 minutes)

Presenter: Jeena Srinivasan

Co-authors: Srinivas Vangapally and Tajuddin Md

Andhra Pradesh has one of the most important marine fisheries in India. The sector contributes to over six per cent of the gross state domestic product and employs nearly one and a half million people directly and indirectly. This paper focuses on the market access and participation of women dried fish processors compared to the male processors in the state. The study looks into the structure, organization and functioning of the fresh-fish input and dried-fish output markets and attempts to bring out some gender-specific concerns and insensitivity observed in the market system. Qualitative and quantitative data collected through in-depth interviews of about 54 processors, both males and females, using a semi-structured interview schedule from across the different fishing harbours and landing centres in AP as part of the Dried Fish Matters study have been used in this paper.

The study observes that the structure, organization, and functioning of fresh-fish input and dried-fish output markets have undergone several changes. The women processors who lack sufficient capital, education, and modern technical skills find it difficult to adapt to the changing systems. As a result, they seem to be losing out to their male counterparts and the other new entrants who sometimes participate in the market remotely using their smartphones. We also note that apart from the various socio-economic inequities existing in the system that adversely affect women’s access and participation, the lapses in collecting a local tax or a market entry fee, known as the Hasil/Asil, results in exploitation and human rights violations. By drawing attention to the existing gender insensitive and discriminatory practices, our study calls for more gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive market reforms and the adoption of other measures to facilitate the participation of women in the dried fish value chains and ensure their livelihoods and welfare.

The Paradox of Progress: The Dried Fish Social Economy of Gujarat (12 minutes)

Presenter: Tara Nair

Co-authors: Rudra Narayan Mishra; Himani Baxi; 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.

From Dried Fish Processing to Shrimp Culture: Analyzing Utilization shift of Marine fish in India (12 minutes)

Presenter: Amalendu Jyotishi

Co-authors: Gargi Mondal, 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 (8 minute reflection, 40 minute discussion)

Facilitator: Benjamin Belton

Other DFM Panels at MARE

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish – exploring interfaces in research on the contributions of small pelagics to food and nutrition security

(Joint panel with Fish4Food and SmallFishFood)

Session link: Panel 3.239
Date and time: Jul 02. 15:30 - 17:30 CEST (08:30 Winnipeg; 13:30 UTC)

This panel gathers insights from four contemporary research projects on small fish (mainly pelagic inland and marine species) that play a crucial role in servicing the food and nutrition security needs of poor people in developing countries. While the Fish4Food project (2016-2021) highlights the state of small and low-cost fish chains in urban areas of South Asia and West Africa, SmallFishFood emphasizes the role of indigenous species in the Lake Victoria region and West Africa; DriedFishMatters focuses on the widely established practice of drying fish for distribution in Southeast Asia; and IKAN-F3 concentrates on small fish chains in rural Indonesia. The panel aims to identify commonalities and differences across geographical regions, seafood products and nutritional outcomes, which it will ‘map’ and ‘debate’, in order to move toward principles and recommendations for research and policy.

Fostering viable social economies in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture

(Joint panel with V2V)

Session link: Panel 1.251
Date and time: Jun 29. 15:30 - 17:30 CEST (08:30 Winnipeg; 13:30 UTC)

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)