Adaptive factors and strategies in small-scale fisheries economies

Despite its relevance, the economic contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation is still poorly understood. This study investigates why some fishers perform economically better in fisheries than others under similar conditions and whether these variations in performance were due to individual adaptive strategies related to fishing technology and effort. A pairwise comparison between fishers' income from the Brazilian equatorial region in 1994 and 2014 was performed while modeling individual changes related to the fishing activity (Generalized Linear Model, GLM) and the factors that would explain why fishers became richer or poorer over time (Proportional odds model). Fisher's geographical region, the use of motorized boats and the adoption of hookah compressors explained income in 1994, whereas having larger boats and fishing with hook and line explained it in 2014. Fishers were slightly more likely to gain income if they changed their type of boat. Some fishers are trapped in poverty, and the changes they made were either not enough to leave this condition or made it worse. Escaping poverty traps in fisheries may require efforts beyond those available to the individuals, especially as stocks become increasingly overfished.