Livelihood Vulnerability of Marine Fishermen to Multi-Stresses under the Vessel Buyback and Fishermen Transfer Programs in China: The Case of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province

Abstract

In the context of vessel buyback and fishermen transfer, some traditional marine fishermen changed their profession and turned to other related industries such as mariculture, fish processing, and recreational fishery. Studying the livelihood vulnerability of different types of fishermen is an important basis to help fishermen rebuild sustainable livelihoods. This paper developed a framework of a fishermen's livelihood vulnerability assessment under multi-stresses, and then conducted an empirical analysis based on a survey in Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China. Finally, the determinants of livelihood vulnerability were analyzed by a regression tree model. Results showed that fishermen with a high level of vulnerability accounted for about 37.35%, and they had some unique characteristics such as advanced age, low education levels. Although converted fishermen faced fewer exposure risks than non-converted fishermen, they eventually showed higher vulnerability due to poor adaptive ability. The livelihood vulnerability of fishermen engaged in recreational fisheries was relatively low, while that of fishermen engaged in non-fisheries was quite different from each other. The results of the regression tree analysis showed that the number of household income sources, whether they converted or not, impacts of disturbances, and whether they were equipped with fishery facilities could influence the fishermen's livelihood vulnerability. The government should pay more attention to the fishermen whose family income source was single, and the converted fishermen whose productive physical capital was scare.

Keywords: livelihood assets; livelihood vulnerability; marine fishermen; vessel buyback and fishermen transfer programs.

Figure 1

The modified livelihood vulnerability framework focusing on marine fishermen.

Figure 2

Locations of prefectures considered in this study.

Figure 3

The LVI for non-converted and converted fishermen: (a) Box plot of the LVI values; (b) Radar chart of the exposure index, sensitivity index, and adaptive capacity index.

Figure 4

The LVI for different types of converted fishermen: (a) Box plot of the LVI values; (b) Radar chart of the exposure index, sensitivity index, and adaptive capacity index.

Figure 5

Determinants of marine fishermen’s livelihood vulnerability.