Maritime Anthropology . . . sample syllabus
Anth 305. Anthropology of Fishing Dr. John B. Gatewood
(CAS Writing Intensive Course) Price Hall, Room 10C
Fall Semester, 2008 758-3814 / JBG1
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is concerned with a particular type of society/community -- those in
which subsistence depends on exploitation of the marine ecosystem. During the
semester, we shall be comparing fishing peoples from around the world, focusing on
their technologies and behavioral adaptations.
For most of the semester, the course utilizes articles from professional journals
and chapters from books to cover a variety of topics pertaining to fishing
as a way of life. In particular, we shall examine the theory of common-property
resources, the specific knowledge used in applying different fishing technologies
(including deciding where to fish, controlling information, etc.), and the
interpersonal and affective correlates of fishing for a living. This phase of the
course concludes with an examination of how social science might play a role in
commercial fisheries management. During the last couple of weeks, we focus on more
extended case studies of different fisheries, and students are responsible for
presenting these to the rest of the class.
REQUIREMENTS
As this is a "writing intensive" course, there are no in-class examinations,
but rather a series of writing assignments. The assignments are described on a
separate handout, but include two short essays, ten article critiques, and a
research paper. In addition, students are responsible for teaching their classmates
selected case studies. Each written assignment receives two grades, one for
"writing" and one for "content."
Students should anticipate at least two individual appointments with me during
the semester to talk about writing. Also, please note that ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED,
and class participation figures into your grade in the course.
MATERIALS
As noted above, most of readings for this course are articles from professional
journals or chapters from edited books. You will have to purchase (at cost) a
xeroxed packet of these materials from the Department secretary. In addition to
the packet of xeroxes, there are two "texts," which are available at Lehigh's
bookstore. Each of you should purchase the texts and, after we discuss the matter
in class, you will eventually select one "fishing ethnography" as your extended
case study.
Required Materials:
McGoodwin, James R. (1990) Crisis in the World's Fisheries: People, Problems,
and Policies. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
McCay, Bonnie J. and James M. Acheson, eds. (1987) The Question of the
Commons. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.
Packet of xeroxed articles/chapters [purchase from Department secretary].
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS
----- INTRODUCTION -----
1. Aug 25 / Tu Introductory Remarks, Course Organization, etc.
2. Aug 27 / Th General Characteristics of Fishing Communities
McGoodwin, James R. (1990) Crisis in the World's Fisheries. Stanford, CA:
Stanford University Press. pp. 1-46. [B W]
Smith, M. Estellie (1977) Introduction. In M. E. Smith, ed., Those Who Live
from the Sea, pp. 1-22. St. Paul: West Publishing. [B W]
3. Aug 29 / F Particular Adaptations to Fishing
Andersen, Raoul and Cato Wadel (1972) Comparative problems in fishing
adaptations. In R. Andersen & C. Wadel, eds., North Atlantic Fishermen,
pp.141-165. St. John’s: Memorial University of Newfoundland. [B W]
Acheson, James M. (1981) Anthropology of fishing. Annual Review of
Anthropology 10:275-316. [B W]
--- THE COMMON PROPERTY NATURE OF FISHERIES ---
4. Sept 1 / M EVENING CLASS … to play “Fish Banks, Ltd.” (~ 2 hours)
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| MONDAY, Sept 1 . . . . . playing "Fish Banks, Ltd." |
| Special Meeting: about 2 hours in the evening; time/place to be determined. |
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5. Sept 3 / W Discussion of the simulation game
6. Sept 5 / F Common-Property Theory: Original Theoretical Formulations
Gordon, H. Scott (1954) The economic theory of a common property resource:
The fishery. Journal of Political Economy 62:124-142. [B W]
Hardin, Garrett (1968) The tragedy of the commons. Science 162:1243-1248.
[B W]
7. Sept 8 / M Common-Property versus Open-Access
McCay, Bonnie J. and James M. Acheson (1987) Human ecology of the commons.
In B. McCay & J. Acheson, eds., The Question of the Commons, pp. 1-34.
Tucson: University of Arizona Press. [B]
Durrenberger, E. Paul and Gísli Pálsson (1987) Ownership at sea: Fishing
territories and access to sea resources. American Ethnologist 14:508-522. [W]
Brox, Ottar (1990) The common property theory: Epistemological status and
analytical utility. Human Organization 49:227-235. [B W]
8. Sept 10 / W Ethnographic Examples: Tragedies
Löfgren, Orvar (1972) Resource management and family firms: Swedish west
coast fishermen. In R. Andersen & C. Wadel, eds., North Atlantic Fishermen,
pp. 82-103. St. John’s: Memorial University of Newfoundland. [W]
Smith, Courtland L. (1977) Fisheries as subsistence resources: Growth and
decline of the Columbia River salmon fishery. In M. E. Smith, ed., Those
Who Live from the Sea, pp. 215-234. St. Paul: West Publishing. [B]
9. Sept 12 / F Ethnographic Examples: Tragedies
Anderson, E. N., Jr. (1987) A Malaysian tragedy of the commons. In B. McCay
& J. Acheson, eds., The Question of the Commons, pp. 327-343. Tucson:
University of Arizona Press. [B]
Carrier, James G. (1987) Marine tenure and conservation in Papua New Guinea:
Problems of interpretation. In B. McCay & J. Acheson, eds., The Question of
the Commons, pp. 142-167. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. [W]
10. Sept 15 / M Ethnographic Examples: Comedies
Acheson, James M. (1987) The lobster fiefs revisited: Economic and ecological
effects of territoriality in the Maine lobster fishery. In B. McCay &
J. Acheson, eds., The Question of the Commons, pp. 37-65. Tucson: University
of Arizona Press. [B W]
11. Sept 17 / W Ethnographic Examples: Comedies
Wadel, Cato (1972) Capitalization and ownership: The persistence of
fishermen-ownership in the Norwegian herring fishery. In R. Andersen &
C. Wadel, eds., North Atlantic Fishermen, pp. 104-119. St. John’s: Memorial
University of Newfoundland. [B]
Taylor, Lawrence (1987) “The river would run red with blood”: Community and
common property in an Irish fishing settlement. In B. McCay & J. Acheson,
eds., The Question of the Commons, pp. 290-307. Tucson: University of Arizona
Press. [W]
12. Sept 19 / F Overview of Problems in Fisheries and Fisheries Management
McGoodwin, James R. (1990) Crisis in the World’s Fisheries. Stanford, CA:
Stanford University Press. pp. 47-142. [B W]
--- ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH FISHING ---
13. Sept 22 / M SLIDES: Alaska, New Jersey, and Caribbean Fisheries
[ ASSIGNMENT DUE: Short Essay #1 ]
14. Sept 24 / W Deciding Where to Fish
Davenport, William C. (1971[1960]) Jamaican fishing: A game theory analysis.
Reprinted in M. Horowitz, ed., Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean,
pp. 307-317. Garden City, NY: The Natural History Press. [B*W*]
15. Sept 26 / F Deciding Where to Fish
Gatewood, John B. (1983) Deciding where to fish: The skipper’s dilemma in
Southeast Alaskan salmon seining. Coastal Zone Management Journal 10:347-367.
[B*]
Durrenberger, E. Paul and Gísli Pálsson (1986) Finding fish: The tactics of
Icelandic skippers. American Ethnologist 13:213-229. [W*]
16. Sept 29 / M Feedback and discussion: Article Critiques 1 and 2
17. Oct 1 / W Deciding Where to Fish
McGoodwin, James R. (1989) Do randomizing devices aid marine hunters?
Maritime Anthropological Studies 2:134-153. [B*]
White, David R. M. (1989) Knocking ‘em dead: Alabama shrimp boats and the
“fleet effect.” In J. S. Thomas, R. L. Maril & E. P. Durrenberger, eds.,
Marine Resource Utilization: A Conference on Social Science Issues,
pp. 25-37. Mobile, AL: University of South Alabama Publication Services. [W*]
18. Oct 3 / F Managing Information
Andersen, Raoul (1972) Hunt and deceive: Information management in
Newfoundland deep-sea trawler fishing. In R. Andersen & C. Wadel, eds.,
North Atlantic Fishermen, pp. 120-140. St. John’s: Memorial University of
Newfoundland. [B*]
19. Oct 6 / M Managing Information
Palmer, Craig T. (1990) Telling the truth (up to a point): Radio communication
among Maine lobstermen. Human Organization 49(2):157-163. [W*]
20. Oct 8 / W Managing Information
Gatewood, John B. (1984) Cooperation, competition, and synergy:
Information-sharing groups among Southeast Alaskan salmon seiners.
American Ethnologist 11:350-370. [W*]
21. Oct 10 / F Managing Information
Wilson, James A. (1990) Fishing for knowledge. Land Economics 66:12-29. [B*]
22. Oct 15 / W Managing Information
Allen, Peter M. and Jacqueline M. McGlade (1986) Dynamics of discovery and
exploitation: The case of the Scotian Shelf groundfish fisheries. Canadian
Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43:1187-1200. [B*W*]
23. Oct 17 / F Determinants and Ideology of Fishing Success
Pálsson, Gísli and E. Paul Durrenberger (1983) Icelandic foremen and
skippers: The structure and evolution of a folk model. American Ethnologist
10:511-528. [B*]
24. Oct 20 / M Determinants and Ideology of Fishing Success
Thorlindsson, Thorolfur (1988) The skipper effect in the Icelandic herring
fishery. Human Organization 47(3):199-212. [W*]
25. Oct 22 / W Determinants and Ideology of Fishing Success
Russell, Susan D. and Rani T. Alexander (1998) Measuring seining strategies
and fishing success in the Philippines. Human Organization 57:145-158. [B* W*]
26. Oct 24 / F Determinants and Ideology of Fishing Success
Gatewood, John B. and Pamela M. Mace (1990) Hard work versus patience:
Simulation of fishing strategies in Nova Scotian herring purse seining.
Journal of Quantitative Anthropology 2:329-352. [B*W*]
27. Oct 27 / M Interpersonal and Affective Aspects of Fishing
White, David R. M. (1977) Environment, technology, and time-use patterns in
the Gulf Coast shrimp fishery. In M. E. Smith, ed., Those Who Live from the
Sea, pp. 195-214. St. Paul: West Publishing. [B*]
Thiessen, Victor; Anthony Davis, and Svein Jentoft (1992) The veiled crew:
An exploratory study of wives’ reported and desired contributions to coastal
fisheries enterprises in northern Norway and Nova Scotia. Human Organization
51(4):342-352. [W*]
28. Oct 29 / W Interpersonal and Affective Aspects of Fishing
Poggie, John J., Jr. and Richard B. Pollnac (1988) Danger and rituals of
avoidance among New England fishermen. Maritime Anthropological Studies
1:66-78. [B*]
Gatewood, John B. (1989) Competition for cultural images: Fisherman versus
logger in Southeast Alaska. Maritime Anthropological Studies 2:87-104. [W*]
--- SOCIAL SCIENCE AND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ---
29. Oct 31 / F Economic Objectives for Fisheries Management
Crutchfield, James A. (1979) Economic and social implications of the main
policy alternatives for controlling fishing effort. Journal of the Fisheries
Research Board of Canada 36:742-752. [B]
30. Nov 3 / M Economic Objectives for Fisheries Management
Smith, Courtland L. (1981) Satisfaction bonus from salmon fishing:
Implications for management. Land Economics 57:181-196. [W]
31. Nov 5 / W Sociocultural Objectives for Fisheries Management
Gatewood, John B. and Bonnie J. McCay (1989) The role of job satisfaction
data in selecting among alternative regulatory policies. In J. S. Thomas,
L. Maril & E. P. Durrenberger, eds., Marine Resource Utilization:
A Conference on Social Science Issues, pp. 51-62. Mobile, AL: University
of South Alabama Publication Service. [B]
32. Nov 7 / F Sociocultural Objectives for Fisheries Management
Fedler, Anthony J. and Robert B. Ditton (1994) Understanding angler
motivations in fisheries management. Fisheries 19(4):6-13. [W]
33. Nov 10 / M Fisheries Management in a Global Economy
[ ASSIGNMENT DUE: initial paper topic & bibliography ]
McGoodwin, James R. (1990) Crisis in the World’s Fisheries. Stanford, CA:
Stanford University Press. pp. 143-204. [B W]
34. Nov 12 / W Fisheries Management in a Global Economy
Gatewood, John B. (1993) Ecology, efficiency, equity, and competitiveness.
In Steven L. Goldman, ed., Competitiveness and American Society, pp. 123-155.
Bethlehem, PA: Lehigh University Press. [B W]
35. Nov 14 / F Challenges to the Very Idea of “Fisheries Management”
Gilbertsen, Neal (1993) Chaos on the commons: Salmon and such.
Maritime Anthropological Studies 6(1,2):74-91. [B]
36. Nov 17 / M Recent Challenges to the Very Idea of “Fisheries Management”
Wilson, James A. and Peter Kleban (1992) Practical implications of chaos in
fisheries. Maritime Anthropological Studies 5(1):67-75. [W]
37. Nov 19 / W STUDENT BRAINSTORMING:
What can social scientists do to improve fisheries
management?
[optional reading] Gatewood, John B. (1989) Potential contributions of social
science to fisheries management. Paper prepared for the Project Prospero
Workshop held at KFA, Juelich, West Germany, May 17-19.
38. Nov 21 / F MOVIE: “Deadliest Job in the World” (LU 2727)
39. Nov 24 / M MOVIE: “Fisheries -- Beyond the Crisis” (LU 3120)
[ ASSIGNMENT DUE: Short Essay #2 ]
--- DISCUSSION OF STUDENT RESEARCH PAPERS ---
40. Dec 1 / M Students describe their papers and get feedback on ideas
from classmates
41. Dec 3 / W Students describe their papers and get feedback on ideas
from classmates
42. Dec 5 / F Course Summary and Student Evaluations
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reminders:
* First complete draft of research paper is due before 4:00 PM on Monday, December 8.
* Revised, final version of research paper is due before 4:00 P.M on Wednesday,
December 17.