Institutional practices and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 15 August 2018
Issue publication date: 15 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of institutional practices, socio-economic status and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on primary research conducted through face-to-face interviews with women fry collectors in the south-west region of Bangladesh. This study attempts to identify the nature and extent of the impact of institutional practices on the women engaged in catching fry regarding their positioning within the institutional framework.
Findings
In the coastal region of Bangladesh, the shrimp sector has opened up economic opportunities for women in terms of access to income and employment. However, women have to make a trade-off between employment gain in terms of wage and health hazards caused due to poor working conditions. The findings of the study indicate that shrimp fry catching, complemented by other sources of income, can only help women to survive. The study also finds that the vulnerability of the fry collectors is the end result of mutually interacting institutional practices under different institutional domains. Accordingly, recommendations are made with a view to effectively utilizing social capital at the community level, which will be particularly helpful in raising fry catchers’ voice in the local political arena and strengthening their position in the marketplace. Due to the higher preferences of buyers towards wild fry and the participation of a huge number of people in fry collecting, this study suggests rethinking government intervention in this regard.
Originality/value
This is original research focusing on the underlying structural and institutional factors behind the marginalization and vulnerability of women and devising policies that will enable modification of the factors that restrain women.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors of this paper have not made their research data set openly available. Any enquiries regarding the data set can be directed to the corresponding author.
Citation
Moni, N.N., Haider, M.Z. and Al Masud, M.M. (2018), "Institutional practices and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 45 No. 11, pp. 1533-1549. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-08-2017-0312
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited