Continuation and Retirement of Fisheries by Aged Fishers and Retirees

Investigation of Reasons and Livelihoods through Interviews

Abstract

This paper illustrates the reasons why fishers over 65 years old, that make up 36% of fishers, continue fishery while some fishers retire at this point. After interviews with 9 retirees and 19 active fishers, both groups aged around eighty, we concluded as follows. Many unintentionally retired fishers wanted to continue fishery. Active fishers who operated fishery as a family businesses were either willing to fish or wishing to retire if their replacements were available. While per-year days at sea of self-employed fishers vary, they equally expressed hardship: their fishery income was not enough to cover living expenses, so they had to spend pension revenue. A sort of fisher and fishing gear-matching system will help realizing their desires.