Exploring concepts of fisheries ‘dependency’ and ‘community’ in Scotland

There is a growing argument that the biological priorities of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy – to halt the depletion of commercial fish stocks – are not a straightforward solution to the problems currently facing international fisheries management and that social objectives need to be incorporated into policy. However, existing notions of fisheries ‘dependency’ and ‘community’ remain poorly understood and leave decision-makers struggling to address social and cultural issues. By investigating further concepts of ‘dependency’, ‘community’ and some of the social issues facing Fisheries Dependent Areas in Scotland, this research explores the complex shape of coastal fishing communities and the conditions of dependency on fishing that coastal areas face. In this paper preliminary findings from an in-depth case study of Fraserburgh in the north east of Scotland are presented to explore the potential meaning and justification of social objectives in fisheries policy.

► Explicit social objectives need to be incorporated into fisheries policy.
► Notions of fisheries ‘dependency’ and ‘community’ pervade fisheries management.
► Scottish social and cultural conditions inform ‘dependency’ and ‘community’.
► Findings on ‘dependency’ include strong relationships and specialisation.
► Findings on ‘community’ involve empathy and multiple lines of solidarity.