Rural pluriactivity as a coping strategy in small-scale fisheries

This paper focuses on different variations of pluriactivity in small-scale fishermen's households and how these are connected to the life-mode and survival strategies of the fishermen. Special attention is given to the diversification of household economy, fishermen's attitudes towards their work and the support from other stakeholder groups. The empirical material comprises of personal interviews conducted with fishermen in the Archipelago Sea Region, SW Finland. Throughout the centuries fishing, shipping, and agriculture have been combined and interlinked in the region. The pluriactivity nature of the livelihoods is still important, but the combinations have changed. New forms of pluriactivity have provided a basis for adaptation of commercial fishing in the changing conditions of existence. In spite of the common economic adaptation through wage-work, the cultural dimensions of the fisherman-peasant life-mode still hold a strong position.