Patron of the seas. Rethinking patron-client relationships in small-scale fisheries

In small-scale fisheries, patron-client relationships (patronage) between traders and fishers are often blamed for the failure of sustainability-based development interventions aimed at improving human and ecological wellbeing.

Patronage has been shown to affect adaptation to the unprecedented market and resource changes fishers face in today’s globalized world e.g. pandemics, climate change.

The role of the relationship, although an important source of insurance for low-income fishing households worldwide, is hotly contested by fishery practitioners and managers who often want to break it.

This project aims to significantly advance understanding of patronage for adaptation and how it may support or hinder the sustainable development of fisheries by using a multimethod approach. I use interpretive research to prioritise the experiences and understandings of fishers and traders within patronage.

Behavioral economics examines key fishing and trading decisions in response to resource and market changes that emerged as important for adaptation.

Participatory methods allow us to understand what future scenarios participants envision for patronage in their fishery.

This intersection of traditions and perspectives will provide more traction in assessing the unique position patrons hold today linking globalizing markets with small-scale fishers and their fishing practises.