This is a Human Ecological
Case Study of the relationship between fishing communities and
their marine resources in Ireland and The Netherlands. It is interdisciplinary
in nature, being carried out from a background of Marine Zoological
Ecology and Anthropology and Sociology. The ecological relationship
between the selected fishing communities and their marine resources
was studied by examining traditional fisheries knowledge and practice.
This approach is based on Indigenous Knowledge Systems research.
Three contrasting study areas within each country were selected
and their geographic, geological, demographic and historical background
discussed. The traditional fisheries knowledge was recorded by
means of a two stage interviewing process, during which a total
of 166 interviews were held. 84 qualitative interviews were carried
out; 15 in Inishmore, nine in Inishbofin and 18 in Dingle comprising
the Irish study areas; seven in Katwijk, ten in Urk and five in
Goeree comprising the Dutch study areas. A further 11 and nine
background interviews were carried out in Ireland and The Netherlands
respectively. From the topics recorded in the qualitative interviews,
a quantitative questionnaire containing 119 questions was compiled
of which 62 were completed, 31 each in Dingle and Goeree. The
traditional fishery knowledge recorded by the qualitative interviews
was discussed under similar subject groupings for each of the
six study sites. The results from the quantitative questionnaires
were analyses by means of multivariate statistical analyses for
category data.
Main findings included that the principle of sea tenure, in combination
with appropriate social structures, forms an important basis for
sustainable marine resource exploitation. Regulation of fisheries
was desired in all six fishing communities, but equal enforcement
in all regions was stressed to be essential. Fisheries regulation
enforcement was perceived not to be equal within the European
Union. Markets were seen as the main driving force behind fishing
strategy decision making by fishermen. Communications between
the fishing communities and fishery authorities were felt to be
insufficient. Quantitative data indicated that within the fishing
communities of this study, traditionality was positively related
with sustainable opinion and practices. A cognitive model of Marine
Resources Exploitation, containing five main areas which influence
the relationship of fishing communities and their marine resources,
was presented. A list of 49 recommendations for future sustainable
marine resource management was drawn up.