Poverty measurement : an application for small-scale fisheries in Bich Dam island, Vietnam

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries are one of the key sectors in Vietnam economy. This has been explained by its noticeable contribution to GDP, sizable share in the total export value in addition to the significant role in employment generation and food security. Contrary to the promising signs of sectorial performance, most of fishermen are considered the poorest of the poor and poverty is dominantly characteristic in small-scale fisheries. Poverty alleviation has emerged as an urgent requirement to sustain fishing communities. Characteristics and causes of poverty in small-scale fisheries should be therefore carefully investigated before any policy decisions are made. The thesis presents findings based on primary data collected through from 60 samples of households in Bich Dam Island in Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam. The empirical results show that 18% of fishermen households are living below the poverty line which is still above the provincial average. Living conditions of islanders’ communities are far below the minimal threshold in the critical shortage of electricity; clean water supply and basic amenities. Regression outcomes in poverty, represented by consumption per capita, analysis indicate that the size and structure of fishing households have considerable effects on poverty. Fishing boat owners have higher expenditures per head as compared with others. Introducing alternative jobs should be implicated in poverty alleviation policy in the island.